Game birds 

OF NORTH AMERICA 



Frank A- Bates 





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The Game Birds 

OF NORTH AMERICA 
A Descriptive Check -List 



BY £ 

frank Af "Bates 

President "Boston Scientific Society" and formerly 
Associate Editor "Ornithologist and Oologist." 



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BOSTON 

BRADLEE WHIDDEN 

1896 



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Copyright, 189G, 

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S. J. PARKHILL & CO., PRINTERS, BOSTON 



INTRODUCTORY. 



In considering the preparation of this list, the first 
point was — u What is a game bird ? " 

What gunner will admit that his favorite bird is not 
game, although it be tabooed by his neighbor ? And here 
again another difficulty arose, for many a man shoots 
Meadow Larks and Keed-birds, and would scorn the 
imputation that he was not a sportsman, or that these 
birds were not game. 

To avoid one horn of the dilemma without getting 
hooked by the other, I have manufactured this definition : 
A game bird is one which is suitable for food and which 
is habitually pursued by man for sport, demanding skill 
and dexterity for its capture. I take it for granted that 
every sportsman is a gentleman, and would not slaughter 
more game than he could find a use for, and that he 
would not descend to the level of the pot-hunter, who will 
kill Kobins and other insectivorous birds simply because 
they are fit to eat. 

With this explanation, I apologize beforehand to any- 
one whose corns I have trodden upon, offering as an 
excuse, my desire to afford a convenient reference list 
adapted to the sportsman's needs without compelling 
him to wander among a mass of useless matter. I have 
also marked with a star (*) those birds which are not 
generally accepted as game, although it has been very 
difficult to draw the line. 



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WATER BIRDS. 



1. *LOON. GREAT NORTHERN DIVER. 

Urinator imber. 

Predominating color, a deep greenish-black 
in old birds, brownish-black in young, marked 
with small white spots. Breast and under 
parts white, and a patch of white lines on the 
throat. The old birds have a band of white 




lines about the neck. Iris of old bird, red ; 
young, brown. Extent of wings about 4 
feet; length from tip of bill to tip of tail, 
about 3 feet. The largest one I ever heard 
of measured 48 inches in length and weighed 
17f lbs. Feet and bill black, the latter 
straight and tapering. Legs set far back on 
the body. 

Habitat — Entire Northern Hemisphere ; 
in winter goes as far south as the Gulf of 



8 THE GAME BIRDS 

Mexico. Common, in summer, in the large 
fresh-water ponds ; earlier and later in the 
season in the bays and harbors. Exceedingly 
wary and difficult of approach, diving at the 
slightest suspicion of danger and with remark- 
able powers in this direction. 

The flesh has a decidedly fishy taste, but 
" baked breast of loon " and " loon stew " are 
esteemed as delicacies by many. 

Its congeners are 

2. * BLACK-THROATED LOON. 
Urinator arcticus. 

General color like No. 1, but with less 
white on throat. Somewhat smaller, meas- 
uring 3-J- feet in extent and 1\ feet in length. 

Habitat — More northern than the loon. 

3. * PACIFIC LOON. 
Urinator pacificus. 

Still smaller than No. 2 ; otherwise nearly 
the same. This bird measures o\\\j 2 feet in 
length. 

Habitat — Pacific coast, Alaska to Gulf of 
California. 

4. * RED-THROATED LOON. 

Urinator lumme. 

About the size of No. 3 and with the same 
general colors, but the sides of the head and 



OF NOETH AMEEICA. 



9 



throat are gray, with a patch of rich brownish- 
red on the throat in the old bird, which is 
lacking, or nearly so, in the j r oung birds, 
which, however, are easily recognized by the 
numerous white spots on the back. 

Habitat — About the same as No. 1, but 
somewhat more confined to the salt water. 



5. * AMERICAN MERGANSER, 
GOOSANDER. POND SHELDRAKE. 

Merganser americanus. 

Predominating color, black ; under parts 
dirty yellowish-white. Head with a slight 
crest. Wing mostly white. Female of more 
subdued colors. Iris of eye carmine red in 
male, yellow in female. Feet generally yel- 
low ; bright red in the male in the spring. 




Bill red, saw-toothed on the mouth, with a 
pronounced hook on the end. Average 
length about 2 feet; extent nearly 3 feet. 
The female is much smaller than the male. 



10 THE GAME BIRDS 

Habitat — Entire North America. Breeds 
in the northern section ; not uncommon any- 
where in the ponds and large rivers during 
the various seasons, as it migrates south with 
the approach of cold weather. They are ex- 
pert divers, feeding upon fish. Their flesh is 
rank, but will fill the belt cavity when noth- 
ing else presents itself. 

6. * RED-BREASTED MERGANSER. 
SALT-WATER SHELDRAKE. SAWBILL. 

Merganser serrator. 

Resembles No. 5, but has a white ring 
about the neck of the male, and the crest is 
more pronounced. The great feature of dis- 
tinction is the brownish-red color which 
adorns the breast. The female is unlike the 
male, but is quite recognizable. 

Habitat — Northern sections. Not so com- 
mon in the United States as No. 5. They 
are principally confined to the seacoast, and 
their habits are much like the last named. 

7. * HOODED MERGANSER. 

Lophodytes cucullatus. 

Back of male black, under side white ; a 
beautiful white crest, fronted and bordered 
with black, decorates the head. The female 
is a little smaller ; brownish, with a much 
smaller crest, but with much more than No. 6. 



OF NORTH AMERICA. 11 

Eyes yellow. A much smaller bird than the 
rest of the family, being only 1-J- feet long, 
and a little over 2 feet in extent. 

Habitat — North America in general, south 
to Cuba. This beautiful bird is generally 
regarded as a prize by gunners, as it is not 
particularly common anywhere, and the male 
bird attracts admiration by its graceful car- 
riage and elegant plumage. It is an active 
diver, feeding upon small fish and aquatic 
insects, living principally upon the fresh 
water. Like its relatives, its flesh is but in- 
ferior food. 



8. MALLARD. GREEN-HEAD. 
WILD DUCK. 

Anas boschas. 

Breast of male in spring silver gray, with 
fine markings of darker. Back black. Head 




glossy green, with a white band around the 
neck. The wing bears a beautiful green 



12 



THE GAME BIRDS 



patch, framed in black and white. The fe- 
male is dusky brown and mottled with darker. 
In the summer the drake loses his green head, 
but can be easily distinguished from the fe- 
male by the wing patch and the upcurled tail. 
Eyes brown ; feet reddish ; bill black, spotted 
with orange. Length 2 feet. Extent 3 feet, 




or a little less. Average weight of males 2 
lbs. 9 oz., females a little less. 

Habitat — The whole of the Northern 
Hemisphere. They are not at all common in 
New England, but are very plenty on the 
inland lakes and rivers, as they are essentially 
fresh-water birds. 

This species is the progenital stock of our 
domestic duck, and has no doubt often been 
mistaken for such by gunners. They hybrid- 
ize easily with the Black duck, and such 



OF XOETH AMERICA. 13 

birds make excellent decoys for shooting from 
blinds. The}' are easily domesticated, and, 
wild or not, their flesh is of fine flavor and 
clean, as they are vegetable feeders. 

9. BLACK DUCK. DUSKY DUCK. 
Anas obscura. 

Predominating color, dark brown; lighter 
on the breast, head and neck. The edges 
of the feathers are shaded with dusky, giving 
the appearance of shell work or scallops. 
The wing patch is violet; the eyes are 
brown, the bill yellowish-brown ; feet orange, 
with dark webs. About the same size as No. 
8, averaging a little less in weight, and re- 
sembling the female of the mallard to a great 
degree, differing in having no white mark- 
ings except on the inside of the wings. The 
male and female are much alike, but the lat- 
ter is generally of a lighter shade. 

Habitat — Eastern North America. This 
bird favors the salt water more than the mal- 
lard, and will be found in immense flocks in 
our bays and harbors, although it drops into 
the large ponds during its migratory flights, 
and is there shot from blinds by means of 
decoys. Our gunners on the New England 
coast will insist that there are two varieties, 
viz, the Red-leg or Southern duck, and the 
Black-leg or Winter duck, although no lists 
to-day recognize a difference. My friend 
Leonard, of Marshfield, Mass., writes me as 
follows : " In my opinion they are different 



14 THE GAME BIRDS 

birds. The Reel-leg is larger, tamer, and does 
not winter here with us. It leaves us here 
(lat. 42° N.) about the middle of November 
and does not appear again until the last of 
February, when they go north. The Black- 
leg is with us till next May and sometimes 
breeds here." The Red-leg weighs nearly 3 
lbs. The Black-leg about 2^ lbs. 

I shall not attempt to decide the question, 
for I have no desire to add my name to the 
list of variety makers (there are too many 
already), but there is food for thought in the 
above, coming as it does from one of the best 
informed market gunners on the coast. 

The Black cluck is one of the finest table 
birds, and always commands a call in the 
markets. 

10. FLORIDA DUCK. 

MOTTLED DUCK (VAKIETY). 

Anas fulvigula. 

Resembles No. 9 very closety, but the 
cheeks, chin and throat are more inclined to 
a buff color, and the light-brown markings of 
that bird are replaced by the same color. 
There is a black spot at the base of the bill 
which the Black duck does not have, and the 
wing patch is bluish-green; size is about 
the same. The Texas variety, known as the 
Mottled duck, is found as far north as Kansas, 
and differs very slightly. 

Habitat — Southern United States. There 



OF NORTH AMERICA. 15 

are some three varieties of this bird, differing 
only in minor points, due doubtless to climatic 
influences. They seem to prefer the fresh 
water more than do the Black duck, which 
they so closely resemble that the ordinary 
sportsman will hardly recognize the differ- 
ence without close observation, though the 
distinction is well marked, being somewhat 
lighter in general color than its near relative. 

11. GAD WALL. GRAY DUCK. 

Anas strepera. 

Predominating color, gray with a yellow 
tinge ; back and breast darker, nearly brown. 
The scaly appearance noted in No. 9 is very 
noticeable in this variety, as the edges of 
the feathers are nearly white. Wing patch 
white. Bill blue-black, in the female lighter 
and blotched with orange. Legs orange, with 
dark webs. Eyes red-brown. Belly white, 
with gray lines. Extent of wings, a little 
less than 3 feet. Length of bird a little less 
than 2 feet, being a trifle smaller than either 
No. 8 or No. 9. Weight about 2 lbs. 

Habitat — Northern Hemisphere in general, 
principally in the interior, as it prefers the 
fresh water. These birds do not go in large 
flocks, but they make up for numbers by the 
noise they make ; a small flock will create 
more disturbance than a raft of Black duck. 
They are comparatively bold ; are clean feed- 
ers, and are excellent eating. 



16 THE GAME BIRDS 

12. BALDPATE. AMERICAN WIDGEON. 

Alias americana. 

Predominating color, gray with fine wavy 
lines of darker, belly white, as is also the 
body of the wing, while the tips are brownish- 
gray. Wing patch green. The body of the 
head is buff color, shaded with greenish- 
black and brick-red, and the old drakes have 
a broad distinct patch of green on the sides 
of the head, backwards from the eye ; the 
distinguishing feature, however, is the dis- 
tinctly white forehead, which is present to a 
greater or less extent in all the different ages. 
The females and the young males are darker 
in general tone and the shell markings are 
more distinct, while the white crown is less 
so. There can be no mistake in identifying 
the species however, from the great amount 
of white on the wings and under parts. 
About the same size as No. 11 ; will aver- 
age smaller. Bill bluish-gray. Feet a trifle 
duller. Eyes brown. A veiy difficult bird 
to describe, from its great variability in differ- 
ent ages. 

Habitat — North America at large, but 
probably less plentiful in New England than 
in the Southern States and the Mississippi 
Valley. In fact the local gunners hardly 
know the bird. 

They are shoal-water birds, and feed upon 
aquatic plants. They have the curious habit 
of thieving the succulent deep-water plants 



OF NORTH AMEBIC A. 17 

from the deep-divers and hastening out of 
reach before they recover from their surprise. 
They winter on our southern border, where 
they congregate in large flocks. 

On the Pacific coast we sometimes find a 
bird almost identical in appearance, but the 
top of the head is creamy instead of white ; 
there is scarcely a shade of green on the sides 
of the head, which is cinnamon-red instead 
of grayish. This is the European widgeon, 
and is only an occasional visitor. It is re- 
ported to be not uncommon on the Pamlico 
and Albemarle Sounds. 

13. GREEX-^YIXGED TEAL. 

Anas carolinensis. 

Prevailing color graj~ ; under parts white. 
Old drakes have a rich chestnut-brown head 
and neck, with green marking, as in the Bald- 
pate. Breast dotted with dark; wing spot 
green. The females and young males have 
dark and light brown as their predominating 
colors, and sufficiently resemble the old males 
that there need be no mistake in their identi- 
fication. Smaller than an}' of the other ducks, 
the length being only a little over a foot and 
the extent less than 2 feet. Bill black ; feet 
light blue ; eyes brown. 

Habitat — Entire North American conti- 
nent. 

Although small, it is one of our finest game 
birds and one of the most prolific. They are 



18 THE GAME BIRDS 

found generally in small flocks on the edges 
of shallow ponds. They are finely flavored 
and a good game bird. The European va- 
riety, closely resembling the American, is a 
rare visitor to our North Atlantic coast. 



14. BLUE-WINGED TEAL. 

Alias discors. 

Predominating color brown, under parts 
lighter than the upper ; head lead-color, 
nearly black on crown with a white crescent 
in front of each eye. The feathers of the 
back have edgings of the lighter color, and 
the breast is spotted with the darker ; wings 
sky-blue with green patch ; bill grajdsh-black ; 
feet yellow ; eyes brown. A little larger 
than No. 13. Weight 12 ozs. 

Habitat — During migrations this bird cov- 
ers the greater part of the country east of the 
Rocky Mountains. Its habits are very much 
like the Green-wing, and like them they are 
very swift of flight. While feeding they 
are very unsuspicious and can be easily ap- 
proached with a due amount of caution. 

15. CINNAMON TEAL. 
Anas cyanoptera. 

The female is very similar to No. 14, but 
the male is of a rich cinnamon-brown color ; 
wings blue as in No. 14, and with green patch. 



OF NORTH AMEBIC A. 



19 



About the same size as the Blue-wing ; bill 
black ; feet orange ; eyes orange in male, 
brown in female and young. 

Habitat — Rocky Mountains, north to Ore- 
gon. A South American variety, rarely found 
outside the above limits. 



16. SHOVELLEK. SHOVEL-BILL. 

Spatula clypeata. 

Broad-bill; although this latter name is 
more often applied to the Ruddy duck. Back 
of male black, with each feather tipped with 
a lighter color. Head dark glossy green; 
breast white ; belly chestnut-brown with a 




purple shade ; shoulders blue ; wing spot 
green, bordered with white ; tips blackish ; 
a white spot at each side of the tail ; bill 
brown, and broad at the tip, which is twice as 
large as at the base ; feet and legs red ; eyes 
reddish-yellow. The female and young males 
are of a soft brown color, shaded with lighter, 



20 THE GAME BIRDS 

as is usual in nearly all the ducks. Eyes yel- 
low. Size about that of the Widgeon (No. 
12), but a trifle smaller. 

Habitat — Entire continent ; but rare on 
the Atlantic coast. Very abundant in Florida 
in the winter. They delight in shallow pools, 
where they float, with their heads under 
water the most of the time, feeding upon the 
aquatic grasses and insects. Audubon pro- 
nounced them as the finest duck for the table 
in America, even better than the noted Can- 
vas-back. Their flesh is very finely flavored, 
and, after all, much of the fame of the latter 
is due to a customary idea. 

17. PINTAIL. GRAY DUCK. 

Dafila acuta. 

Back of male bird graj^, marked with wavy 
white lines; under parts white. Wings dark, 
speculum green, with coppery reflections. 
Head and upper part of neck dark brown. 
The tail is from 5 to 9 inches long, form- 
ing a distinctive feature. Bill black, edged 
with gray ; feet gray-blue ; eyes brown ; size 
a little smaller than the Mallard, but more 
gracefully formed. Weight about 2 lbs. The 
female and young drakes are somewhat 
smaller, and lack the long tail. The back is 
brown, mottled with cream-color, while the 
under parts are light yellow. This plumage 
is liable to be somewhat varied, as they often 
cross with the Mallard. 



OF NORTH AMERICA. 21 

Habitat — West of the Alleghenys ; not 
at all common east, as they prefer the shallow 
ponds, where the bottoms are covered with 
herbage. C. J. Maynard says that there are 
more of these ducks in Florida in the winter 
than of all other species put together. They 
seldom or never dive, but stand nearly on 
end, feet in the air, while pulling the roots 
from the bottom. They are very swift of 
flight and quite wary. 

18. WOOD DUCK. SUMMER DUCK. 

Aix sponsa. 

Back of drake very dark brown, belly 
white, sides marked with gray ; breast is red- 
dish-brown with triangular white spots. The 
top of head and its crest, which is quite long, 
is dark green, with purple reflections. The 
throat is white and a section of it branches 
up toward the eye. A line of white extends 
backward on each side of the head from the 
face of the bill and another from just behind 
the eye. Bill black, with pinkish-white sides, 
and red at base ; feet orange ; eyes red. In 
June the male changes its plumage, and then 
resembles the female, but by October they 
have nearly regained their full plumage ; dur- 
ing this period, it is said that the drakes flock 
together. The female would hardly be rec- 
ognizable as the mate of its gaudily dressed 
partner. The back is slaty -brown and the 
belly white ; the breast and sides of body are 



22 THE GAME BIRDS 

light brown, mottled with dark gray and 
brown and there is no crest, but the feathers 
of the nape are elongated. 

Habitat — Temperate North America. 

This bird, formerly so plentiful, breeding as 
it did near all the wooded streams of the 
United States, is ) r early becoming more scarce. 
Ten years ago there was scarcely a stream in 
New England but had its pair, which lived 
and reared their young near its banks ; but the 
beautiful plumage of the male bird was a bait 
for the sportsman, and the tender and savory 
flesh for the epicure. In the fall, when they 
cram their crops to the utmost with acorns, 
they are in the finest flavor and fit for a mon- 
arch. Now these places know them not, and 
they are plentiful only in the more sparsely 
settled localities. 



19. EED-HEAD. AMERICAN POCHARD. 

Ayihya americana. 

Back of male mixed black and white in 
very fine zig-zag lines, giving it a gray appear- 
ance ; belly gray, gradually verging into the 
color of the back ; wings darker ; breast black ; 
head and neck rich chestnut-brown ; bill blu- 
ish, broad and flattened ; feet gray-blue with 
dark webs; eyes orange. The female and 
young are much like the above, but the head 
is dull brown, lighter near the bill, and the 
back is brown, with no zig-zag markings ; eyes 
yellow ; length a little less than 3 feet ; ex- 
tent of wings a little less than 2 feet. 



OF NORTH AMERICA. 23 

Habitat — Arctics to the Gulf. This is 
like the next, a deep-water duck, culling its 
food from the bottom and there gathering 
mollusks, fishes, and submarine plants. It is 
often mistaken for the famous Canvas-back, 
which it much resembles and for which it is 
often sold, as the novice can scarcely distin- 
guish the difference, though it is plainly 
marked. The bill is broader and more flat- 
tened, and blue, with a black belt at end, 
while in the latter it is blackish throughout. 

20. CANVAS-BACK. 

Ay thy a vallisneria. 

Resembles No. 19 very much, in fact the 
Red-head is often sold for this bird, but the 
head is closer feathered and the bill black, 
not so broad, and higher at the base ; the back 
is lighter in general color ; ej r es of male red ; 
of female red-brown ; the size is a trifle larger 
than the Red-head. 

Habitat — Same range as the Red-head, and 
its habits apply as well in one case as the 
other. They were formerly abundant on the 
Atlantic coast, and while feeding in the Chesa- 
peake Bay on the wild celery ( Vallisneria spi- 
ralis), they attained a flavor which gave them 
a world-wide reputation as a table bird, which 
was, in a measure, undeserved, and for this 
reason were slaughtered in thousands. In 
consequence they are now getting scarce in 
this locality, and the principal supply comes 



24 THE GAME BIRDS 

from the Mississippi Valley. These Western 
birds are not possessed of the same delicacy 
of those from the Chesapeake, and it is a mat- 
ter of serious doubt whether it is ever the peer 
of the Shoveller, much more the superior. 
Audubon pronounces in favor of the latter, 
while Wilson inclines to the former, but 
Audubon was original, while Wilson, with all 
his genius, from which I would not for the 
world detract one iota, was more swayed by 
other's opinions. These birds are famous for 
their diving and swimming qualities, and 
when wounded will often escape in this way, 
oftentimes seizing a sunken root with a death 
grip and never arising to the surface. 



21. AMERICAN SCAUP DUCK. 
BLUE-BILL. BROAD-BILL. RAFTDUCK. 

Aythya marila nearctica. 

Head, neck and breast black, in the drake, 
as is also the rump, tail, and body of wings ; 
more inclined to a brownish shade in the fe- 
male. Wing tips lighter than body, and the 
wing patch is white ; belly nearty white, and 
back black and white in zig-zag lines, much 
like the Canvas-back ; bill blue ; feet black ; 
eyes 3 T ellow. The female has a distinct white 
face, formed by a white ring around the upper 
part of the bill and just back of it. Length 
about 20 inches. Extent of wings generally 
over 30 inches. 



OF NORTH AMERICA. 25 

Habitat — North America in general. Dur- 
ing the breeding season they frequent the in- 
land ponds and marshes, but at other times 
they are not uncommon on all the salt-water 
bays of our coast. They are good divers and 
feed upon a general course of aquatic diet. 

The resemblance of this bird to the next is 
so close that they are sometimes hardly dis- 
tinguishable. Opinions vary as to their qual- 
ities as food. Coues says they are good when 
fat. The gunners eat them, but shore men 
will even eat gulls with gusto ; for my part, 
excuse me. 



22. LESSER SCAUP DUCK. 
LITTLE BLUE-BILL. 

Aythya affinis. 

This bird is not easily distinguished from 
No. 21, except that it is somewhat smaller, 
measuring 15 to 18 inches in length, and under 
30 inches in extent. 

Habitat — Same as last, which it resembles 
almost exactly, except for being a little smaller. 
Like them they form rafts or flocks on the 
water, and when they rise make the air re- 
sound with the sound of their wings, but un- 
like them they prefer the more brackish 
water of the river mouths, and the great 
rivers and ponds of the interior. 



26 THE GAME BIRDS 

23. RING-NECKED DUCK. 
RINGED-NECK SCAUP. 

Ay thy a collar is. 

Bill darker colored than No. 22, brown 
ring 1 around the neck of drake. Wing 1 brown- 
ish-slate, wing patch grajr, feet gray-blue, 
with darker webs. Back nearly black. Fe- 
male is more like No. 22, but the white face 
is not so apparent, and it has a white ring 
about the eye. This bird may also be distin- 
guished from the others by the bill ; Nos. 21 
and 22 have a plain blue bill, while No. 23 has 
black tip and base, and a narrow stripe of 
white defines the central blue band on either 
side. 

Habitat — Generally about the same as the 
Little Scaup, which it also resembles in its 
habits. The same remarks apply to one as 
well as the other. 



24. AMERICAN GOLDEN-EYE. 
WHISTLER. GARROT. 

Glaucionetta clangula americana. 

Head and back black, neck, breast and un- 
der parts white, with white markings on the 
wings. Head richly glossed with green. 
The distinctive feature of the Whistlers is 
the white patch on the side of the head at 
base of bill, but not touching it. In this spe- 
cies the spot is round. Length 1-J- feet ; ex- 



OF NORTH AMERICA. 27 

tent 2£ feet. Bill black, feet orange with 
dark webs. Eves bright yellow. The female 
has a brownish head without the white spot, 
and the general tone is duller, and the bird a 
little smaller. 

Habitat — North America in general, and 
a common winter duck in the United States 
on both coasts and often in the interior. 

A bird of beautiful plumage in the male, 
an expert diver, fond of the flats. 

Opinions differ as to the edibility of their 
flesh. Coues says: ** Meat bad — rank and 
fishy," but gunners on the New England 
coast eat them at times, and in olden times 
roast Whistler was often on the spit, and 
that when other ducks were more plentiful 
than now. 



25. BARROWS GOLDEX-EYE. 
ROCKY MOUNTAIN WHISTLER. 

Gla ucion etta islan die a. 

Habitat — More northern than the last 
named, although it breeds in the Rocky Moun- 
tains. It comes in the winter down the coast 
and rivers, but is never so common as the 
other form. It is possible that it is often 
confounded with the common Whistler, but 
can be easily distinguished by the white spot 
before the eye, which is triangular in this 
species and oval in the other. There is also 
a crest on the top of the head and a parti- 



28 THE GAME BIRDS 

colored bill, while the gloss of the head is 
purple in the Barrow's and green in the 
American. 

Both birds get their common name from 
the whistling sound given off by the wings in 
flight. 

26. BUFFLE-HEAD. BUTTER-BALL. 
SPIRIT-DUCK. DIPPER. 

Charitonetta albeola. 

Back and head of male black, the latter 
with a large white patch extending from the 
eye back to the edge of the nape, forming a con- 
tinuous patch. The head is very puffy; hair 
cut a la pompadour ; neck and under parts 
white. The female has no puffed head; back 
brown, under parts dirty white, with white 
wing patch and on side of head. Bill of drake 
dull blue ; of female, dusky. Feet of drake 
flesh-color ; of female, blue-gray, with dark 
webs. Eyes brown. Weight about 18 ozs. ; 
female a little less. 

Habitat — North America at large. The 
male of this bird is a beauty and no mistake, 
but Heaven help the man who tries to eat 
one. I can eat almost anj r tliiiig when I am 
hungry, but I prefer to hunger rather than 
eat a Dipper. They can dive like a Kanaka, 
and are only excelled by the little Grebe (the 
hell-diver of the vernacular), which can elude 
a rifle ball and dodge a sunbeam. Their 
habits are like their relatives, the Golden-eyes. 



OF NORTH AMERICA. 29 

27. OLD-SQUAW. LONG-TAIL DUCK. 
SOU-SOUTHERLY. COCKAWEE. 

Glangula hy email s* 

Predominating color of the drake, white ; 
breast, back and wings black, the hatter with 
a patch of long white feathers ; head with a 
patch of gray-blue about the ej^es, shading 
into black toward the back of neck. Two 
long black feathers protrude from the centre 
of the tail. In the spring the white feathers 
of the side are mingled with reddish ones. 
Bill black, tipped with orange ; very light 
when fresh. Feet blue ; eyes red. Female 
brown on back, shaded white beneath ; no 
long feathers on tail nor shoulders ; bill and 
feet dusky-greenish ; eyes yellow. Weight 
about 2 lbs. A very hard bird to describe, as 
there are so many variations to its plumage 
in its different forms. The summer and 
winter coats are very different in both sexes, 
but there is no chance of mistake after one 
of the birds have once been noted. 

Habitat — Northern Hemisphere. 

Of all the inveterate old gabblers, this 
bird carries off the palm ; a good-for-nothing 
tattling set of old gossips. The flesh is rank 
and fishy, as they are fish feeders, but the 
males are very pretty in their dresses of black 
and white, decked out with drab and brown. 
They are often shot for their beauty, but 
never, I think, for food. 



30 THE GAME BIRDS 

28. HARLEQUIN DUCK. 
LORD AND LADY. PAINTED DUCK. 

Hi s trion ic u s h istr ionic us . 

Sexes very unlike. Predominating color 
of the drake dull purple, darker on the up- 
per parts than on the lower, changing to 
chestnut on the sides ; marked with white as 
follows : a patch in front of eye, curling- 
over it toward the crown, where \t changes to 
brown ; a round spot on side of head, just 
below which is a long patch on side of neck ; 
a collar about the neck, and patches on wings 
and each side of the root of the tail, besides 
a white crescent on breast in front of each 
wing ; bill greenish-yellow ; feet gray-blue 
with dark webs ; eyes red-brown. Predomi- 
nating color of female brownish-gray, to 
whitish on under parts ; a whitish spot before 
the ej^e and behind the ear ; bill and feet 
bluish ; eyes brown ; length 1|- feet or a little 
less ; extent of wings 2 feet or over. 

Habitat — Northern hemisphere, south in 
winter to latitude 40° north. These beauti- 
ful ducks are not common farther south than 
the coast of Maine on the east coast, and 
northern California on the west. They are 
well known to gunners principally from their 
rarity and their variegated plumage, than 
from any qualities as a food bird. The fe- 
male is much smaller, and entirely different 
in general appearance from the male. 



OF NORTH AMERICA. 31 

29. LABRADOR DUCK. PIED DUCK. 
Camptolaimus labrddorius. 

Former habitat Atlantic coast, breeding 
from Labrador northward, descending in 
winter southward to the Chesapeake. The 
adult male, a rather large duck, is in general, 
black, head and upper neck white, with a strip 
of black on the crown and around the neck ; 
wings pied with black and white. Length 
about 20 inches. Extent about 30 inches. 
Weight nearly 2 lbs. Female is a sort of 
dappled dark gray, lighter on the wings. 

This bird is now nearly extinct if not quite 
so, but only forty years ago they were on sale 
in our markets, and there is a bare chance that 
another may yet be taken. Strange as it may 
seem, this bird has disappeared during that 
space of time, and now bids fair to follow in 
the footsteps of the Great Auk. The main 
opportunity of securing one more of these 
birds (there are only 38 in existence, and 
these are valued at about $500 each), seems 
to be either in finding one among the treas- 
ured trophies of some coast gunner of the 
north, or that one may yet be taken among 
the flocks which come down our coast in the 
winter, and this note is written in the hopes 
that gunners will heed the universal cry and 
look out for them. 



32 THE GAME BIRDS 

30. AMERICAN EIDER. SEA DUCK. 

Somateria dresseri. 

Predominating color of drake white; rump, 
tail and under parts black ; top of head blue- 
black ; back of head sea-green. The bill, 
which is dirty-yellow, runs on each side far 
up toward the eye. Feet greenish ; eyes 
brown. Length 2 feet and over ; extent 3 to 3| 
feet. Female very unlike the male. Pre- 
dominating color brown or tan, barred all over 
with black. 

Habitat — North Atlantic coast ; south in 
winter to Long Island Sound. They princi- 
pally frequent the rocky shores of our coast, 
but occasionally are seen on the large lakes. 
Their flesh is not particularly delicious at all 
times, but is supposed to be palatable under 
favorable conditions. The clown from the 
breast is of well-known superior qualit)^. 



31. PACIFIC EIDER. 

Somateria v-nigra. 

Habitat — North Pacific coast, south to 
California. The habits are much the same 
as those of No. 30, and the same remarks 
will apply to both. The distinctive feature 
which divides them is that this latter bird 
has a black V-shaped mark on the throat. 



OF NORTH AMERICA. 33 

32. KING EIDER. 

So materia spectabilis. 

Habitat — Circumpolar ; south in winter, 
in very small numbers, to lat. 40° N. 

This biicl varies much in appearance from 
the others of the family, and may be distin- 
guished by the presence of the black V throat 
mark, from the Eastern variety, and from 
the Western by the different configuration of 
the bill, especially in the summer. 



33. AMERICAN SCOTER. SEA COOT. 
BUTTER-BILL. 

Oidemia americana. 

Color of drake entirely black ; bill very 
peculiar, having a very pronounced hump at 
the base, which is yellow, changing to black 
on the tip. Weight 2J- to 3 lbs. The female 
is smaller, dusky brown, paler beneath, with- 
out hump on the bill ; feet dark ; eyes brown. 

Habitat — North American coast and Great 
Lakes. 

I have now touched on ground " where 
angels might fear to tread," for none are so 
jealous of their favorite bird as the " coot 
shooter," and there is no family so diversely 
named and regarded by mankind. A young 
bird may be a luscious dish for an epicure, 
and " coot stew " is famous, but an old bird 



34 



THE GAME BIRDS 



is simply infamous in flavor, and I never 

saw a bird so young as to equal a stew of old 
boots flavored with fish oil. Pardon me, 
friends, devotees of the wily coot, my educa- 
tion has been sadly neglected. I can eat 
sculpin. but do not ask me to eat coot. 

The females and young of this bird, and 
also Xo. 35 are known to gunners collectively 
as gray coot, and weiffh from 2 to 3 lbs. 



34. YTHITE-TTIXGED SCOTER. 

BULL COOT. 

Oidem ia deglandi. 

Plumage of drake black, with white spot 
on wing and another under the eye: bill 
black, with knob at base, but not so large as 
Xo. 33 : eves white : feet red. with black 




webs. Female sooty-brown, with same mark- 
ings, except bill is less bulging, and there is 
more white on the head : eyes brown. Length 
If feet : extent over 3 feet. Weight 3 to 4 
lbs. 



OF NORTH AMERICA. 35 

Habitat — About the same as the other 
coots, and reseinblino* thein in general habits. 



35. SURF SCOTER. SKUNK-HEAD. 

' iemiaperspiciUata. 

M black, with white spot on fore- 

I. and anothei :; back :c neck : bill prom- 
inent, orange at top and tip. mottled with 
black fcl — . . large black spot at base on 

each side, in front of which is a bluish-white 
h; eyes white: :-: >range, webs lark. 
Female : tii. whitish on si les : : hea 1 :,:; 1 e- 
neath : bill dark grray ; :-: lirty-yellow, webs 
black; eve< brown. Weight about -t to 3-j 
lbs. A little -mailer than No. 84. 

This seems to be the most plentiful of this 
family, at least rat the shores of New Eng- 
land, where thev are nu st sought for bv gun- 
ners. but the comparison is rendered variable 
by local conditions. 

In Massachusetts Bay — the Mecca of 
•• i-ooters " — they strike in about August 15 
and the flight is >ver about September i! ( ~>. 
but the birds stay about all winter. They 
1 upon the flats, but are then extr-mely 
difficult of approach by floating. They are 
mostly shot outside the harbors as they fly 
by and are called down 1; y le : : vs. C uri<: usly 
enough, although they reach the bay so early, 
they are seldom seen below Cape Cod until 
October 1. 



36 THE GAME BIRDS 

36. RUDDY DUCK. BLUE-BILL. 
BROAD-BILL. 

Erismatura rubida. 

Butter-ball. But this latter name must not 
confound it with the Buffle-head. 

Predominating color of full plumaged male, 
rich brownish-red. Top of head black, throat 
and sides of head white, belly silvery or gray- 
white. Generally this bird is brownish, light 
beneath. Bill and feet bluish. Eyes red- 
brown. Easily distinguished from clucks of 
its size, by its broad, flat body, shovel-bill, and 
short neck and legs. Length 1-J- feet. Extent 
less than 2 feet. 

It habits the entire continent, and is now 
better known on inland waters than on the 
eastern coast. 

They are easy of approach but gently slide 
beneath the water on slight provocation. 
Expert divers, they swim for some distance 
beneath the water, reappearing out of gun- 
shot. The}^ feed upon seeds, roots and shell- 
fish, and are very edible, being fairly well 
flavored, fat and juic}^. When food is plenti- 
ful, thej^ gorge themselves to the utmost, and 
then are in prime condition for cooking. 



OF NORTH AMERICA. 37 

37. LESSER SNOW GOOSE. 

Chen hyperhorea. 

38. GREATER SNOW GOOSE. 
WHITE BRANT. WAVEY. 

Chen hyperhorea nivalis. 

Color white, wing tips black, head stained 
with rusty. Bill red, with black on edge of 
mouth. Legs same color. Eyes dark brown. 
The young birds look like No. 39. Weight 
5 to <o\ lbs. 

Habits the western sections and interior of 
North America, a few visiting the Atlantic 
coast in the winter, common in the interior. 

These two birds are so near alike that I do 
not attempt to separate any notes on the 
two varieties. The lesser variety is only about 
2 lbs. lighter than the other, and grading up 
to it, so that it is nearly impossible to distin- 
guish them. Their coloration is identical. 
The bird which is found in the East is gener- 
ally, perhaps invariably, the larger form. 

In the East they are much in habit like other 
geese, feeding in the bays and harbors, though 
I have never heard of their being shot in the 
ponds. I see no reason why they should not 
be, as in the West they swarm the prairies to 
such an extent as to destroy whole fields of 
wheat. 

The flesh is dark colored, and not so finely 
flavored as some of its relations. 



38 THE GAME BIRDS 

A near form is the 

39. BLUE GOOSE. 

Chen ccerulescens. 

Which was long considered but the young of 
No. 38, or a colored phase of the same bird. 
It is about the size of No. 37, and with about 
the same habits. Head white, body dusky 
gray-blue, shading into lighter below. Tips 
of wings black. Not common. 

40. ROSS'S SNOW GOOSE. 
HORNED WAVEY. 

Chen rossii. 

This little goose, not larger than a Mallard, 
is an Arctic form, descending in winter to the 
lower latitudes. Its habits and characteristics 
are but little different from others of the 
family. 

41. AMERICAN WHITE-FRONTED 
GOOSE. LAUGHING GOOSE. 

Anser albifrons gambeli. 

Predominating color grajdsh-brown, under 
parts whitish, blotched with black ; this white 
extends backward around the base of tail, 
which is black, tipped with white. The dark 
color is mottled with brown on the tips of the 
feathers. The characteristic mark of the bird 
is the white forehead. Bill smooth, pink ; feet 
yellow, eyes brown. About the same size as 



OF NORTH AMERICA. 39 

No. 38. The young birds are darker and lack 
the white forehead, and the bill and feet are 
darker. 

This bird is quite common on the Pacific 
coast and the Mississippi valley ; seldom com- 
ing east, although they are occasional visitors. 
They are more shy than the other geese and 
hug to inaccessible places very closely. They 
feed mostly upon aquatic plants and their 
flesh is of fine flavor. 

42. CANADA GOOSE. 

Branta canadensis. 

Upper parts brownish-gray, shading to a 
lighter below ; bill, head, neck and legs black. 
A broad white patch on the chin, extending 
up to nape, and white over and under the tail, 
eyes brown; extent, 5 feet, length, 3 feet, 
weight 8 to 15 lbs. when in good condition. 

The common wild goose of the entire 
country, breeding in the north and going 
south in winter to the Gulf of Mexico. 
Their migratory flights are strong and rapid, 
and their V-shaped skeins passing over have 
drawn out many a farmer to try a shot, and 
many a one has fallen in this way, and many 
more have been decoyed to blinds on the 
shores of the ponds where they had stopped 
to rest and feed, and never gone on with the 
rest of the flight. Their flesh is justly 
esteemed for the table, and their feathers for 
beds and pillows. 



40 THE GAME BIRDS 

43. HUTCHINS'S GOOSE. 
Br ant a canadensis hutchinsii. 

This is a small variety of No. 42, about the 
size of No. 38, and frequents the western 
country more than the east. Another variety 
is the 



44. AVHITE-CHEEKED GOOSE. 

Br ant a canadensis occidentalis. 

Which is a Pacific coast bird ; and still an- 
other, 



45. CACKLING GOOSE. 

Branta canadensis minima. 

Smaller than any of the others and from 
the same section. 

There is no doubt that all these varieties 
are entitled to separate mention, but for our 
purpose they are about the same thing. 
Every gunner likes to know, however, what 
his game is, and for purposes of distinction 
I give Coues's method of separating the 
varieties : — 

Large, no collar of white on neck, No. 42. 
Small, " " " " ' No. 43. 

Large, with " " " No. 44. 

Small " " " " No. 45. 



OF NORTH AMERICA. 41 

46. BRANT. BRANT GOOSE. 

Branta bernicla. 

Head, neck, back and wings black, some of 
the quills of latter, whitish on the inside. 
This color is in some places shaded with 
brown. Under parts gray, barred with black- 
ish ; back of legs it is white, which color 
extends up over the base of the tail. Sides 
of neck marked with several white streaks. 
Bill and feet black, eyes brown. Length 2 
feet, extent 4 feet. 

This bird habits the Atlantic coast, coming 
south to the United States, only in the migra- 
tions, as far as Florida. They collect in large 
flocks in the shoal waters, where they feed 
upon the shell-fish, plants, etc. They seldom 
dive when feeding, but standing nearly on 
end, they pull their food from the bottom. 
They are wary and avoid the shore except 
when feeding. The sand bars are often black 
with them while they are dusting. Their 
flesh is very edible, and they are much 
esteemed for both food and sport. 

47. BLACK BRANT. 

Branta nigricans. 

Much like No. 46, but the black of the 
neck runs down on the breast, and the white 
marks on the neck nearly form a collar. Size 
of No. 46, and is found on both coasts, but 
most plentiful on the Pacific; in fact, it is 
really rare on the Atlantic. 



42 THE GAME BIRDS 

48. * EMPEROR GOOSE. 
PAINTED GOOSE. 
Philacte canagica. 

Predominating color light blue, with wavy 
marks of lilac, and clearly defined shell-shaped 
markings of black. Head, back of neck and 
tail white ; throat black, speckled with white ; 
feet flesh-color ; eyes brown. 

Habitat — Extreme northwest, coming south 
to Alaska, and lower in the winter. A little 
larger bird than the Brant. A sea-goose, and 
not worth the powder used to kill it for its 
edible qualities, as it is rank and fishy. 

49. BLACK-BELLIED TREE-DUCK. 

Dendrocygna autumnalis. 

Predominating color black ; head and neck 
chocolate, lighter on the chin, white under 
tail, on the flanks and on wing ; bill red ; feet 
pink ; length 1 T 8 2 feet ; extent 3 feet or more. 
Lives on the Rio Grande. A very good 
market bird. 

There is another of these peculiar ducks, 

the 

50. FULVOUS TREE-DUCK. 

Dendrocygna fulua. 

Which is yellowish-brown, darker on the head, 
no white on wing ; black bill and bluish feet ; 
about the same size and same locality, but 
comes farther up the Gulf coast. 



OF NOKTH AMERICA. 43 

51. WHISTLING SWAN. 

Olor columbianus. 

Color white in full plumage, sometimes with 
rusty markings about the head ; bill and feet 
black, the former with a small }^ellow spot in 
front of the eye ; length under 5 feet ; extent 
6 to 7 feet. Young birds are smaller, ashy- 
gray, with a tint of reddish on the head ; bill 
and feet flesh-color. 

They habit the entire continent of North 
America, but are rare on the North Atlantic 
coast. They feed on aquatic plants and in- 
sects, which they glean from the bottom with 
their long necks ever and anon poked up in 
the air and then thrust down to the mud, but 
they never dive while feeding. It is a much 
debated question among sportsmen naturalists 
whether they ever dive or not ; they are, how- 
ever, credited with this feat when in danger, 
but they are seldom approached very closely 
without taking wing. Their voice is loud, 
and they are exceedingly noisy when feeding, 
but it is needless to say that u the sweet war- 
bling of the dj'ing swan " is " all in j^our eye." 
They could not warble if they wanted to. 

52. TRUMPETER SWAN. 

Olor buccinator. 

This bird is hardly to be distinguished from 
No. 51 except by its larger size, being about 
5 feet long and 8 feet in extent of wings, 



44 THE GAME BIEDS 

weighing about 40 lbs. There is one point 
of difference in full-grown birds, which should 
be constant, viz., No. 51 has twenty feathers 
in the tail and No. 52 has twenty-four. Both 
these birds are good eating, and sportsmen 
need not quibble over the feathers in the tail 
if they have an opportunity to bring one to 
bag, for they are the cream of bird-shooting. 



OF NOKTH AMERICA. 45 



THE WADERS. 



53. * WHOOPING CEANE. 

Grits americana. 

Old birds white, with black wing-tips ; 
bill greenish ; legs black ; head naked, car- 
mine color, sparsely covered with hair-like 
black feathers ; eyes yellow. The young 
birds are grayish-white, with patches of cinna- 
mon-brown ; head feathered, of the same 
brown color. Length 4^ feet ; extent, 7 1 feet, 
weight 12 to 30 lbs. Female a little smaller. 
It principally habits the Southern States and 
the Mississippi Valley. Its voice is loud 
and can be heard a long distance. These 
birds feed upon grains, vegetables, worms, 
mice, reptiles, or in fact almost anything 
which comes within their reach. They are 
strong fliers and keep up a continuous croak 
as they carry their Indian file through the 
air. They are exceedingly wary, and are 
best shot from blinds, as they come to feed in 
the shores of the shallow ponds of the South. 

I scarcely am able to distinctively class this 
bird and its succeeding allies as game birds, 
although their flesh is not bad eating, and is 
much relished by some, so I have admitted 



46 THE GAME BIRDS 

them under the hypothetical list, as almost 
any sportsman would drop them if he had an 
opportunity. 

54. * LITTLE BROWN CRANE. 

Grus canadensis. 

Plumage of old bird lead-gray; wing-tips 
a little darker. Head nearly bare, as in No. 
53, crimson ; bill and feet black ; eyes red. 
Young, with head feathered, and plumage 
patched with rusty-brown. Length 3j feet. 
Extent, 6 feet and over. The only record of 
the weight of this bird is one shot in Texas, 
viz., llf lbs., but it is stated that they weigh 
as much as 17 lbs. 

The habits of this bird are very similar 
to No. 53, and, like them, they exhibit 
strange antics in the mating season. In fact 
they conduct a war dance, in which the fe- 
males join as well, and the whooping and 
circling are equal to a country dance. 

There is another bird which is closely re- 
lated — the 

55. * SANDHILL CRANE. 
COMMON BROWN CRANE. 

Grus mexicana. 

Plumage and habits exactly like the last, 
and in fact it was always considered one 
species until very lately, but the variety 



OF NORTH AMERICA. 47 

makers have decided that they shall be di- 
vorced, basing their decree upon the differ- 
ence in size of birds. The size of this bird 
is : Extent, 6f feet ; length, nearly 4 feet. 

5G. KING RAIL. RED-BREAST RAIL. 
FRESH-WATER MARSH-HEN. 

Rallies elegans. 

Predominating color olive-brown, streaked 
with very dark brown ; plain brown on top 
of head and neck ; chestnut-brown on wings ; 
reddish-brown below ; lighter on the belty. 
The sides are darker and streaked with white. 
Length, lj feet ; extent, 2 feet. Bill and 
feet yellow-brown ; eyes red. Is found in 
the fresh-water marshes of the eastern United 
States, south of lat. 40° N., where it skulks 
and hides in the high grass and reeds, 
and can even take to the water on approach 
of the dog, flying principally by night, and 
not starting easily when approached. They 
feed upon insects, reptiles and seeds of the 
aquatic plants and grasses. Their flesh is 
good, well flavored, and this, combined with 
their size, makes them a favorite game bird. 

57. CLAPPER RAIL. SALT-WATER 
MARSH-HEN. 

Rallus longirostris crepitans. 

Varieties — California Clapper Rail, Louis- 
iana Clapper Rail. 



48 THE GAME BIRDS 

General appearance something like No. 56, 
but considerably smaller, and a little lighter 
in general tone. The lower parts are more 
inclined to a grayish color, as, in fact, is the 
whole bird. Length 15 inches ; extent about 
20 inches. 

The two varieties are only such as are pro- 
duced by difference of climate and local sur- 
roundings, and are so nearly alike, that the 
average sportsman could not distinguish them 
unless laid side by side. It may be very 
well for our ultra scientific workers to devote 
their time to finding varieties, and these va- 
rieties may be valid and constant, but it seems 
to the average sportsman that they would 
be better employed otherwise. 

These birds frequent the salt and brackish 
water marshes of our shores on both coasts, 
on about the same range as No. 56. Thej^ 
take to the water more freely even than 
the fresh-water bird, but afford excellent 
sport if properly hunted. The most approved 
plan is to place a good poler in the stern of a 
skiff, while the gunner stands in the bow, and 
is propelled through the reeds which the birds 
occupy as a home. This sport requires a 
quick eye and a steady hand and balance, 
Avhile the poler must be steady and quick to 
" mark '* the birds as they fall. 

In the autumn they are very good eating, 
as thejr are clean feeders themselves at this 
season. 



OF NORTH AMERICA. 49 

58. VIRGINIA RAIL. 
Rallies virginianus. 

Not often known to sportsmen as being 
more than a smaller bird of No. 56, or a dark 
colored bird of No. 59. In plumage it is al- 
most an exact copy on a small scale of No. 
56, measuring about 9 inches in length and 
\%\ in extent. 

They are more or less abundant in the 
marshes, both salt and fresh, from Massachu- 
setts southward, of course leaving its more 
northern range when cold weather approaches. 
They also are found in small numbers on the 
western coast, and are not rare in the interior. 
Their home appears to be in the marshes 
from New York to Carolina, and here they 
are found in considerable numbers, affording 
good sport, but there is not meat enough 
upon them to make them of much value as 
food. The old saying " as thin as a rail," 
might have been a comparison with this 
bird, without deviation from the sense. Our 
birds in the north in summer are not near so 
numerous as the succeeding species, but only 
a few gunners make any distinction, so that 
perhaps more are seen than are reported. 



50 



THE GAME BIRDS 



59. SORA. CAROLINA RAIL. 
CAROLINA CRAKE. 
Porzana Carolina. 

Predominating color rich }~ellowish-brown, 
with numerous streaks and spots of white ; 
head shaded with black, sides lighter, barred 
with white, and belly nearly white. In 
younger birds the colors are not so clearly de- 
fined, the impression being that of a faded 
bird. Length about 9 inches ; extent of 
wings about 1 foot or more ; bill and legs 
yellowish-green ; eyes brown. 




Inhabits the whole of North America ; 
most common in the temperate regions, where 
it swarms in the reedy marshes. This is the 
common rail of gunners, and is deservedly a 
favorite with them. Many are the hours 



OF NORTH AMERICA. 51 

spent in wading the meadows in pursuit of 
these birds. They do not rise much more 
readily than others of the family, and have 
a way of skulking which is conducive of 
bad language. 

60. YELLOW RAIL. 

Porzana noveboracensis. 

Predominating color dull yellowish, barred 
with black and white ; belly lighter, but with 
a more yellowish tinge than any of the other 
varieties. Bill darker than the others ; feet 
and legs flesh-colored ; eyes hazel. A smaller 
bird, about 6 inches long and a foot or less in 
extent. This bird is not common anywhere, 
more reserved in his habits, not so noisy, and 
moves about mostly in the twilight. It 
ranges all over the continent, 

61. BLACK RAIL. 

Porzana jamaicensis. 

Very dark colored, and finely speckled 
with white, with some bars ; bill black ; legs 
and feet greenish-yellow; eyes red. Smaller 
than any of the others, being under 6 inches 
long and about 11 inches in extent. Also 
widely distributed, but not commonly seen. 

The reason that I note these birds is that 
sportsmen ma} r look for them and report their 
capture that their relative abundance maj^ be 
better known. 



52 THE GAME BIRDS 

The succeeding three birds I admit to this 
list under protest, as I do not consider them 
game in any sense of the word, although I 
would not cast reflection upon any man who 
shoots them. Perhaps a man may be pardoned 
for taking that which is pleasing to the ar- 
tistic sense by reason of its beautiful colors 
or graceful form, as well as he who caters to 
the demands of an epicurean appetite. These 
birds are beautiful ; they are sometimes eaten ; 
they are shot, hence they are here at the 
solicitation of parties interested. 



62. * PURPLE GALLINULE. 
BLUE MUD-HEN. 

Ionomis martinica. 

Color above, greenish shaded with the 
purple of the head and under parts, darker in 
belly and wings ; the bill is red, tipped yellow, 
and above it is a sort of shield of blue color ; 
legs yellow. South Atlantic and Gulf States, 
sometimes north to lat. 40°. Length 1 foot, 
extent nearly 2 feet. A beautiful bird with 
manj^ of the characteristics of the Coots, and 
like them living in the marshes and on the 
edges of the ponds. 

I found one of these birds, in captivity, in 
possession of Mr. Andrew Downs, of Halifax, 
Nova Scotia. It was captured in that place, 
and when I saw it there in 1889, was reason- 
ably tame. It would feed upon the seeds 



OF NORTH AMERICA. 53 

thrown in the aviary for the other birds, and 
would come down and eat with them. It 
passed a portion of the time in the branches 
of a small tree, which occupied the centre, 
and roosted there at night, placing its long 
toes over the spreading twigs where they 
forked, as it could not clasp its toes around 
the branches. 

63. * FLORIDA GALLINULE. 

Gallirtula galeata. 

Back dark slate-color; head, neck and 
breast brownish or black, becoming lighter on 
the belly ; edges of wing white, with stripes 
of same color on the sides ; bill, which has a 
helmet like the last named species, is red with 
green tip ; legs greenish ; eyes red, brown in 
young birds. Weight about lib.; a little 
larger bird than the last, and inhabiting about 
the same country, except that these birds are 
regular visitors to the North for breeding, and 
they are more inland in their habits. Like 
the Rails, they dangle their feet when they 
fly, and soon drop. 

64. * AMERICAN COOT. MUD-HEN. 
MEADOW-HEN. 

Fulica americana. 

Predominating color slate-blue ; much 
darker on the head and neck, and tinged Avith 
brownish on the back ; edge of wings white, 



54 THE GAME BIRDS 

and same color under the tail ; bill white, 
shaded with very dark red at tip and base. 
Legs greenish slate-color, and the joints of the 




toes are furnished with broad flaps. Ej^es red. 
Length 1^ feet, extent 2 feet or over. 

Its habits are very much like the Gallinules, 
inhabiting the marshes where the reeds are 
thick and the water plenty, and though thej^ 
delight to sport in the open water, they 
quickly take to their reedy coverts when 
disturbed. 

The reason that I objected to their intro- 
duction here was on account of the general 
verdict of gunners that they were unlit for 
food. I never tried but once ; I never shall 
try again ; a thought of the first experience 
is enough, and in my 3^ounger da}^s any one 
who would eat a " mud-hen " would eat crow. 
But I have found many advocates of the bird, 
as many as of the " Sea-Coot," another of the 
same ilk as regards epicurean tastes, and 
hence it is here. 



OF NORTH AMERICA. 55 

65. RED PHALAROPE. WHALE-BIRD. 

Crym oph ilus fulicarius . 

The adult birds, in summer, are nearly 
uniform wine-color on the under sides, and 
the top of the head is almost black. The 
rump is white, and the sides of the head 
are the same color, which markings extend 
over the back of the neck. 

The back has a tawny appearance, because 
the black feathers are all edged with brownish. 
The wing feathers are all marked with 
white. Eyes brown. Legs black : bill yellow- 
ish at base, black at tip. Extent \\\ inches, 
length 1\ inches. 

Sportsmen seldom see this bird in the full 
plumage, as they are then generally in the far 
North, and they pass this section of the coast 
without coming on shore, except by accident, 
about the first two weeks in May. 

In winter they are more common in civil- 
ized latitudes, but would hardly be recognized 
as the same bird. The back is dark gray, and 
the head and under parts are nearly white. 
The white markings on the wings are also 
noticeable. 

It is hardly fair to class these birds as 
shore-birds, as they only come to land when 
blown in by heavy winds. I think that this 
bird is typically a sea-bird, and like the 
Stormy Petrel, makes its bed upon the waves, 
and sleeps with both eyes open. During 
heavy northeast storms, I have had it reported 



56 THE GAME BIRDS 



thirty miles inland, but do not remember of 
ever hearing from it on other conditions. 



66. NORTHERN PHALAROPE. 

Phalaropus lobatus. 

Whale-bird. Adult birds in summer plu- 
mage are among our most beautiful birds. The 
back is gray, banded with ochre-yellow. The 
under parts are white, and the neck is nearly 
encircled b} T a band of beautiful brownish-red. 
The wings are darker than the back, and 
plainly marked with a band of white. Eyes 
dark brown, bill and feet black. A trifle 
smaller than No. 65. They vary much from 
this plumage at different ages and seasons, 
the immature and winter birds being darker, 
and with the reddish neck less evident. 

Much like No. 65 in general habits, living 
mostly at sea, where the} 7 " feed upon the float- 
ing weeds which carry the insects and small 
crustaceans which they favor. They occa- 
sionally go inland, and I think are found over 
the greater part of North America. 



67. WILSON'S PHALAROPE. 
Phalaropus tricolor. 

Although all the Phalaropes are peculiar, 
in that the female is larger and more hand- 
somely colored than is the male, in none is it 



OF NORTH AMERICA. 57 

better exemplified than in this instance. Her 
neck is of a beautiful purplish-red shading 
into velvety-black upon the sides of the head, 
and this color can be traced back to the wings ; 
the back and top of head are gray, becoming 
lighter at the base of the tail, and the wings 
are slightly darker. Under parts pure white, 
breast shaded with buff. Eyes brown, bill 
and feet black ; in size larger than either of 
the others of the family. 

The male is much smaller, and, although 
he has about the same marks, they are not so 
bright. The young, and the old birds in 
winter, are light-gray above, white beneath, 
and breast shaded darker. 

These birds are exceedingly rare in the 
East, but quite common in the interior and 
westward. 

They are to be found on the ponds and 
marshes, and feed upon the insects and snails. 
All these birds are at home upon the water, 
but seldom or never dive. 

This peculiarity of the sexes has given 
rise to many tales of female supremacy and 
domination, but I fear that it will follow 
those of the song of the dying swan, " It's all 
in your eye." 

Although, perhaps, these birds do not come 
distinctly within the limits of my definition 
of game, I never saw a sportsman who would 
not shoot one, and should consider him lack- 
ing in mental capacity if he did not. 



58 THE GAME BIRDS 

68. AMERICAN AVOCET. 
Recurvirostra americana. 

Predominating color of the fall plumaged 
birds is white, shading to a light brown on 
the neck and head, which seems to fade away, 
as winter approaches, to a dull gray. Wings 
black. The bill is extremely long, being 
about one-fifth the length of the whole bird, 
curved upward and black. Ej^es light brown. 
Legs very long ; dull blue. Extent 1\ feet, 
length nearly 1^ feet. 

This is a very curious bird, with its small 
body and long legs and bill, and parti-colored 
plumage. It feeds upon the aquatic insects 
which inhabit the shallow pools about which 
it loves to wacle, immersing its long bill to 
the bottom, skimming the top in rapid succes- 
sion, but they do also sometimes invade the 
grass fields, and wander over them in their 
search for food. They are now veiy rare in 
the Eastern United States, but seem to be 
common on the Pacific coast, and the Eastern 
markets often receive them in consignments 
of game from the Mississippi Valley. 

69. BLACK-NECKED STILT. 

LONG SHANKS. 

Himantopus mexicanus. 

Under side, forehead and base of tail white, 
and a large spot of same color on each side of 
the head back of the eye. Top of head, nape 



OF NORTH AMERICA. 59 

of neck, back and wings black ; eyes and legs 
red; bill black. The female and young birds 
are similar, but not so bright. Length 15 
inches (variable on account of the length of 
the bill, which is from 2\ to 3 inches long) ; 
extent 1\ feet. 

Another long-legged bird, and in habits 
and distribution much like No. 68, but more 
southerly. I have never seen this bird in the 
East, but it lias been reported as occurring 
here, and doubtless is often in our markets. 
They are said to be social, feeding in large 
flocks, and not particularly wary. 

70. AMERICAN WOODCOCK. 

Philohela minor. 

There are a number of vernacular names 
for this bird, but I think that all will recognize 
it without difficulty. It is almost outside the 




limits of the power of man to describe the 
magnificent marking of russet-brown and 
black which characterize the plumage of this 



60 THE GAME BIRDS 

bird, which, however, is easily recognizable 
from the long bill, short legs, stub tail, and 
the position of the eyes, which are set high 
up in the head, and far back ; eyes black ; bill 
and legs flesh-colored. Average weight about 
6^ oz., but have been taken weighing 9 oz. 
The habitat is Eastern North America, north 
to Nova Scotia, which is now the finest place 
for this bird within reach of Eastern SDorts- 

J. 

men. When I was there in the fall of 1889, 
big bags were reported during the last of 
September, and while at Kentville, in the 
centre of the Province, one man brought in 
28 birds taken by himself, and this did not 
appear to be considered out of the usual 
course of things. The sportsmen of the 
Southwest have apparently a bountiful field 
in the low river bottoms which intersect that 
country. Many characterize this bird as the 
" King of Game Birds," and he is entitled to 
surely a princely rank, if not the head. 

There is a bird which has been taken in 
this country, one-third larger, but with about 
the same coloration and markings. This is 
the European Woodcock, and is so very rare 
that a bird weighing over 9 oz. should be pre- 
served by its fortunate captor, at least until it 
has been examined by ornithologists. I have 
a record of a woodcock weighing 12 oz., shot 
in Maine by a Dr. Gardner, but I have been 
unable to get more details. If not the Eu- 
ropean variety, I think it heads the list for 
weight. 



OF NORTH AMERICA. 61 



71. WILSON'S SNIPE. 

Gallinago delicata. 

Known as English Snipe, but this latter 
name should hardly be used, for the European 
Snipe is not unknown on this side of the 
water. 

Upper side varied brownish-black and 
tawny; top of head black, with a tawny 
stripe down the middle; breast and sides 
brown, spotted with darker; belly nearly 
white ; eyes brown ; feet and bill greenish, 
the latter about 2f inches long ; weight 3^- to 
4J oz. ; length 11 inches, extent 18 inches. 
The females will average a trifle less than 
this, but in all other particulars are similar to 
the male. 

This bird inhabits the fresh marshes all 
over the continent, and its " Scaipe " and 
twisting flight is well known. This is prob- 
ably one of our most difficult birds to shoot, 
as the moment it is fairly launched into the 
air it assumes an erratic course of flight pro- 
ductive of misses and profanity. Half-leg 
deep in the bog, with a crazy bird in front, 
about the safest plan is to snap at the bird as 
soon as it starts, and before it fairly gathers 
itself. This needs a quick eye and finger, 
and few men are sure of their bird. They 
are most delicious birds for the table. 



62 THE GAME BIRDS 

72. DOWITCHER. 
KED-BREASTED SNIPE. BROWN-BACK. 

Macrorhamphus grise us. 

Back brownish-black, mottled with light 
reddish-brown. Under parts of the same light 
color, shading to almost white on the belly; 
inside of wings white, marked with dusky; 
rump white, showing very plainly during 
flight ; tail black, barred with white. In 
winter the general tone is grayish, mottled 
with darker ; white below, shaded with gray- 
ish on the breast, sides and throat ; bill and 
legs greenish-yellow ; eyes dark reddish- 
broAvn; length about 11 inches, of which 2^ 
inches is bill; extent 18 inches. 

Supposed to inhabit only Eastern North 
America, and to be replaced in the West by 
a variety (M. g. scolopaceiis) which rarely 
comes East. This latter bird differs only in 
averaging larger in size ; the bill averages 
longer, and the belly is cinnamon-brown, in- 
stead of whitish. The variety makers have 
decreed that they shall be twain, and they are 
so laid down ; but I doubt if any average 
sportsman could distinguish them if laid side 
by side. They are both excellent game birds, 
and finely flavored, coming to decoj^s nicely, 
and alight in a bunch. Those that are not 
killed when a flock is fired upon, wheel 
around over their dead and wounded com- 
rades, returning again and again, although 



OF NORTH AMERICA. 63 

repeatedly fired at. They frequent the low 
flats and marshes, in tide waters following 
the ebb and flow. 

73. STILT SANDPIPER. 

Micropalama himantopus. 

Predominating color black, mottled with 
white and brown ; a reddish spot is on each 
side of the head and also a dusky line. Tail 
gray, under side reddish, mottled and barred 
with black and white ; bill and feet dark 
green; eyes brown; length 8 \ inches; extent 
about 16 inches ; legs very long. In winter 
they change to a gray color, mottled with 
lighter, and the legs are paler in color, with 
the under parts of breast and belly nearly 
white. 

This bird may be considered as really not 
common anywhere. Their range extends all 
over the continent east of the Rockies, and 
the only place where they may be considered 
as any way common is on the outlying points 
of our Eastern coast about the first of August, 
when they roam the flats in company with the 
sanderlings and tattlers. 

74. KNOT. RED-BREAST PLOVER. 

Tringa camttus. 

Sometimes called Robin Snipe, in common 
with No. 72. The young are known as gray 
backs. The adult birds are black on the back, 



64 THE GAME BIRDS 

tins color being broken by each feather being 
tipped with dirty white ; breast and belly 
reddish -brown ; tail gray, edged with white, 
short and even ; bill stout and greenish-black ; 
legs same color ; eyes dark brown ; extent 20 
inches; length 10i inches. 

One of our handsomest shore birds, inhabit- 
ing almost the whole world. In this country 
most common on the eastern coast, becoming 
rare westward, about the great rivers and 
lakes. The young birds are gray, marked 
with white above, and white, with a tinge of 
reddish, below. The markings on the back 
remind one of a succession of black and white 
semicircles. The spring migration passes lat. 
40° N. about May, and returns early in 
August, at which time they are very fat, and 
a bonne bouche for an epicure. They feed on 
shell-fish and marine crustaceans, which they 
pick up on the flats at low tide. They follow 
the flow of the waves upon the beach, running 
back and forth vivaciously, and not seeming 
to mind when they were not quick enough 
to avoid an incoming wave, which took them 
from their feet and floated them along. The 
call of two sharp notes — " Wheep, wheep " 
— is easily imitated, and they will often come 
within range, without blinds or decoys. 



OF NORTH AMERICA. 65 

75. PURPLE SANDPIPER. 
Tringa maritima. 

Predominating color of the bird which is 
generally known to sportsmen, is dark purple 
on upper parts and wings, the latter edged 
with white ; breast lighter, each feather edged 
with white. This color extends along under 
the wings, but the belly is pure white ; legs 
and bill flesh-color, the latter with black tip. 
The adult breeding plumage is seldom seen, 
as the bird has a circumpolar range, coming 
South only in the autumn and winter. Their 
length is 9 inches, and extent about 16 inches. 
They are rarely seen before the first of Oc- 
tober, and confine themselves to the rocky 
beaches, so that only a few have ever seen 
them, and still fewer have shot them. 

There are two birds closely allied to this 
one, but they probably never come farther 
south than Alaska. I never saw one, and 
know nothing about them. They are the 
Aleutian and Prybilof sandpipers. 

76. PECTORAL SANDPIPER, 
GRASS-BIRD. JACK-SNIPE. 

Tringa metadata. 

The color of the upper parts is a mixture 
of ashy and reddish markings on a dark brown 
ground ; under parts white ; breast and sides 
of neck dull light brown, marked with streaks 



66 THE GAME BIIiDS 

of darker ; patch of white under the chin, 
and a white line over the e) r e. The crown is 
a mixture of streaks of dark brown and light 
chestnut, and the nape of the neck is lighter, 
being streaked with two shades of a dull 
yellowish cast. Wings darker than body. 
In the young fall birds the breast has more of 
a yellow tinge. Base of tail black; eyes 
brown ; legs greenish-yellow. Length 9 
inches ; extent 17 inches. 

These birds are found all over the country, 
and I think are, as regards habits, pretty 
much the same wherever found. They love 
the low, muddy shores and flats, and the 
grassy meadows above tide water, feeding 
upon the crustaceans, grasshoppers and other 
small insects. 

They are a favorite game bird, although 
small; as they are quick of flight, somewhat 
resembling the snipe, and when " walked up " 
give a good shot an opportunity to show his 
skill. They are fine food, although small, 
and one never need throw them one side as 
useless. 

There are two other birds closely allied 
to this, and to the casual observer differing 
but little. The first, 

77. WHITE-BUMPED SANDPIPER. 
Tringa fuscicollis. 

Differs principally in the base of the tail being 
white ; the breast without the dull color; and 



OF NORTH AMERICA. 67 

smaller size. Length 7^ inches, and extent 
15 inches. Eyes brown, legs brownish. 
Found on the beaches'" as well as on the 
marshes. 

Gunners on the east coast have found a 
smaller bird mingling with flocks of No. 76, 
and they often have remarked that they are a 
different species. I have never been able to 
secure one of the smaller birds, but have no 
doubt that it will prove to be 

78. BAIRD'S SANDPIPER, 
Tringa bairdii. 

Rare on the coast but plentiful in the in- 
terior, and differing from No. 76 in its 
smaller size, the length being 7 inches, and 
extent of wings about 15^ inches. The neck 
is the same color as the crown. The mark- 
ings on the back have a tendency to yellowish 
rather than chestnut, and red as in the Grass- 
bird. The shading on the breast is light, and 
the bill and feet are black. 

79. LEAST SANDPIPER. PEEP. 
BUMBLE-BEE. 

Tringa minutilla. 

Back of full plumaged birds ashy-gray, 
mottled with black and brown ; throat and 
sides, grayish ; under parts white ; e)'es brown ; 
bill and feet, greenish-slate ; length, about 5^ 
inches ; extent, 11 inches. This bird hardly 



68 THE GAME BIRDS 

needs especial description, as its small size 
is sufficient to distinguish it from the others, 
although No. 82 is but little larger. 

In habits, this species is but little differ- 
ent from the rest of its tribe, running about 
among the pools of water left by the receding 
tide, picking up the insects and shell-fish. 
The}^ are exceeding^ restless, and seldom in 
one spot for more than a moment. They breed 
in the far North, but are so irregular in their 
movements that they are with us nearlj^ every 
month in the summer. 

I am much in doubt whether to admit these 
birds in the list, but they are so closely asso- 
ciated with others of " like ilk," that I am in 
a measure obliged to describe them. It 
would take about a dozen to make a mouth- 
ful, but when that mouthful is obtained, it is 
one of the sweetest morsels that ever titillated 
the palate of an epicure. My mouth waters 
at the thought of " peep-stew," and I can 
pardon the man who calls them game, though 
they be not larger than sparrows. 

80. RED-BACKED SANDPIPER. 
DUNLIN. FALL-SNIPE. OX-BIRD. 

Triaga alpina pacific a. 

In the full summer plumage, the back is a 
reddish-brown, mottled with black and shaded 
with grayish touches ; wings, mottled gray 
and brown, shaded with white ; the head, 
neck and breast are ashy, marked with elon- 



OF NORTH AMERICA. 69 

gated spots of darker ; belly black, rest of un- 
der part white. 

The winter plumage is so much different, 
that they are often esteemed as separate 
birds. They then lack the red back and the 
black belly. The upper parts are mottled 
gray, and the under parts nearly white, the 
breast being streaked with dusky ; eyes 
dark brown; bill and feet black; length, 8| 
inches ; extent, 15 inches. 

This is deservedly a favorite bird with 
sportsmen, both from its beautiful plumage, 
and for its edible qualities. They are on our 
New England shores about the first of May, 
and again during October. They feed on 
the sandy flats, and in the autumn are easily 
captured, any boy being able to walk them 
up or call them down. They inhabit the 
whole of North America, breeding in the 
Arctics. 

There is a slightly smaller bird, which can 
be only distinguished by its size, and dis- 
proportionately elevated bill. This is the 
European Dunlin, a rare visitant to our 
Atlantic shores. 

81. CURLEW SANDPIPER. 
FERRUGINEOUS SANDPIPER. 

Tringa ferruginea. 

Top of head and back, bright greenish- 
black, mottled with a clear reddish ; neck and 
under side, reddish-brown ; bill and legs, 



70 THE GAME BIRDS 

greenish-black ; the former long and curved 
downwards, and the latter long and slender. 
This bird is a very rare visitor to our Atlantic 
shores, and there are only about fifteen in- 
stances of its occurrence here recorded. It is 
with the hope that more may be reported 
that this note is inserted. The length is 
about 81 inches, and the extent about 14 
inches, nearty the size of the Dunlin. 



82. SEMI-PALMATED SANDPIPER. 
PEEP. 

Ereunetes pusillus. 

Predominating color grayish-brown, formed 
by the intermingling of black in the field of 
each feather, surrounded by red and tipped 




with white ; pure white below. In winter 
and in the } T oung birds the color is gray- 
ish, and in both dresses the breast is shaded 



OF NORTH AMERICA. 71 

with dark. Length a trifle over 6 inches, 
extent about 12 inches ; eyes dark brown ; 
bill and legs greenish-black. 

This bird much resembles the other peep 
(No. 79), and probably but few sportsmen 
recognize a difference between them, and for 
their purposes no distinction is necessary, as 
their habits are similar. 

Many a sportsman, when the larger birds 
are not flying, makes out his clay's sport with 
these little birds, and when they are wild it 
will require some patience and craft to secure 
more than a dozen or so unless they are very 
plentiful. 

83. WESTERN SANDPIPER. 

Ereunetes occidentalism 

This is another case of hair splitting on the 
part of our ornithologists, and I do not think 
that over one in fifty of my readers could dis- 
tinguish this bird from the last if they lay 
side by side, so for all readers west of the 
Rockies, for No. 82 read No. 83. 

84. SANDERLING. GRAY-BACK. 
BULL PEEP. 

Calidris arenaria. 

In the summer plumage the back is mottled 
with shell-like markings of black, gray and 
reddish, formed by each feather having a 
black centre and a reddish or gray tip. This 



72- 



THE GAME BIRDS 



marking is a very difficult one to describe in 
unscientific language, and must be seen to be 
appreciated. The belly is pure white and 
the breast mottled. The winter and young 
plumage lacks the reddish and the breast is 
shaded with buff. Length 8 inches ; extent 
over 15 inches ; eyes brown ; bill and feet 
black. 




This bird is found at various seasons over 
the entire continent, and for beauty is sur- 
passed by but few. It passes Massachusetts, 
going northward, early in May, and returns 
in July, the adults coming first and the young 
following in August. They feed upon the 
sandy beaches and flats almost exclusively, 
and seem to be in constant motion. They 
will follow a " breaker " down until they are 
wading in the rolling surf, and skurry back 
to avoid the rush when it returns. 

Since the approach of civilization has 
driven the larger birds away from our shores, 
more of these birds are shot than formerly, 
but they are as deserving as the plovers of a 
place in the game bag. They are a good 
table bird, and are generally in good condi- 
tion, especially the young birds in the fall. 



OF NORTH AMERICA. 73 

85. MARBLED GODWIT. MAELIN. 

Limosa fedoa. 

Predominating color dark brown, variegated 
with reddish-brown spots and markings. The 
under parts are of a rusty color, and the 
markings are finer. The bill is long, curved 




upwards slightly, flesh-colored, with dark- 
brown tip. Legs long, blackish. Length 18 
inches; extent about 33 inches. Eyes brown. 

Distinguishing Features. — Rump and up- 
per side of tail barred ; lining of wings red- 
dish ; markings on under side in short streaks ; 
bill 4 to 4^ inches long. 

This, one of the largest of our " shore 
birds," is not very common on our Eastern 
shores, but will be found in goodly numbers 
south of Cape Hatteras, where they congre- 
gate on the marshes ; in the interior they fre- 
quent the wet prairies. They are shy birds, 
but come to decoy well, and, if one is 
wounded, the others will often hover over, 
affording another shot, if the gunner is not 
in too much of a hurry, and will call them 
back. 



74 THE GAME BIKDS 

There is another bird of this family, which 
is common in Alaska, known as the White- 
tailed Godwit, but it so seldom comes within 
our range that I do not give it especial men- 
tion. It is common in the Old World. 

86. HUDSOXIAN GODWIT. SPOT-RUMP. 

Limosa hcemastica. 

Predominating color more of a grayish cast 
than No. 85 ; and the under parts are reddish- 
brown, barred with dusky and whitish lines. 
The winter plumage is gray, and under parts 
grayish- white, with but few markings. Bill 
like the last-named bird, but much shorter 
(2f to 3J inches). Legs slate-colored; eyes 
darkish-brown. Length 15 inches ; extent 
27 inches. There are variations of plumage 
in every combination between the two stages. 

Distinguishing Features. — Tail black, 
tipped with white, and with white base, 
giving the common name of " Spot-Rump"; 
lining of wings blackish. 

This bird is somewhat smaller than the 
Marbled Godwit, but the habits are very 
similar. Its range is over the entire con- 
tinent, south to South America, except west 
of the Rocky Mountains, but it nowhere 
seems to be common. 

Both these birds are delicate in flavor, and 
are true game birds. They are often con- 
founded with the curlews, but are readily 
distinguished, as the bill turns up, and in the 
other it turns down. 



OF NOBTH AMEEICA. 75 

87. GREATER YELLOW-LEGS. 

WINTER YELLOW-LEGS. TATTLER 

Totanas melanoleucus. 

Back nearly black, speckled with white. 
Head and neck lighter, due to the white be- 
ing in the form of streaks : a white line 
above the eye, and the rump white, slightly 
barred. Under side white, marked with a 
few lines toward the breast, which is much 
streaked with gray. Eyes brown. Bill black 
and long (2\ inches), slightly turned upwards. 
Legs long and slender, chrome-yellow in color. 
Length about 13 inches; extent 2 feet. 

The young plumage is lighter, with fewer 
dark markings. 

These birds arrive early from the South, 
are gone to the far North before summer opens, 
and on their return linger in the temperate 
latitudes until the cold weather is fairly upon 
us. 

I know not whether this bird is the more 
admired as a game bird, or hated by gunners 
for its noisy, vociferous cries when it sees 
them : many a good shot at plover has been 
spoiled by one of these birds setting up its 
infernal u cu-cu-cu-cu-cu-cu " when they were 
crawling upon a flock of birds. 

Still they are not difficult to secure ; are 
easily called to blind on the edge of the sedge, 
as their call is not difficult to imitate. 

They feed principally upon the small fish 
which swim about in the little pools left upon 



76 THE GAME BIRDS 

the flats by the receding tide, and they wade 
about in the shallow water, following its edge 
as it recedes and advances, continually keep- 
ing up a bobbing motion, as if they kept up 
the motion so as to strike more quickly when 
occasion served. 



88. YELLOW-LEGS. 
LESSER YELLOW-LEGS. 

Totanus flavipes. 

A miniature counterpart of No. 87 so far 
as all practical purposes go. Length 11 inches; 
extent 20 inches ; bill lj- inches and straight ; 
the legs are longer in proportion to its size 
than in No. 87. It is found in the same 
localities as its larger prototype, and resem- 
bles it in habits. In New England, however, 
it is known as Summer Yellow-legs, since it 
arrives from the North about the middle of 
July, and leaves for the South as early as 
September 15. It is, in autumn, a fat, fairly 
flavored bird, but is so easily captured that 
one soon tires of shooting them. They will 
come again and again to the blind, where 
lie outstretched a number of their fellows, 
who have just fallen, and do not seem to 
mind the showers of lead which are poured 
into their midst. 

I have often wondered where they passed 
in their spring migration northward, as we 
seldom see them at that time upon the New 



OF NOKTH AMERICA. 77 

England coast, and I am inclined to think 
that they go up the valley of the Mississippi, 
and spread out after they pass the Canadian 
range of mountains. 



89. SOLITAEY SANDPIPER. 
Totanus solitarius. 

Above, greenish-brown, finely speckled on 
back and streaked on the head and neck with 
white ; white on the under side, the sides of 
the body and neck marked and barred with 
dusky ; tail barred white and black ; bill 
black ; feet greenish ; eyes brown. The shades 
are lighter in the younger birds. Length 8J- 
inches; extent 16^- inches. 

It seems strange that this bird does not 
figure more in the more popular treatises on 
game, for it is not an uncommon visitant to 
all sections of the country. It prefers, I 
think, the fresh water, although often found 
feeding from the pools of salt water near the 
shore. They are very shy, and more or less 
like the little " Tip-up " in their behavior, 
bobbing about on the shores of the shallow 
streams and ponds. They are very quiet and 
reserved, and seldom whistle except when 
started. 



78 THE GAME BIHDS 

90. WILLET. HUMILITY. 

Symphemia semipalmata. 

Predominating color of old birds in full 
plumage dark ashy-gray, varying in shade with 
the age, and more or less marked with black- 
ish, in interrupted bars ; there is also a shad- 
ing of brown ; under side white, with brown- 
ish shade, and marked on the breast and 
sides with black ; rump white, and there is a 
white band on the wings which is very appar- 
ent during flight; eyes brown; bill black; 
legs bluish. The young plumage is light 
ashy-gray, under side white, and there are 
numberless intermediate shades between this 
stage and full plumage. Length 16 inches ; 
extent 28 inches. 

It is claimed that there is a variety, 

91. WESTERN WILLET. 

Symphemia semipalmata inornata. 

Which occurs in the district west of the Miss- 
issippi. The distinguishing trait is only 
apparent in full plumaged birds, except 
for the slight difference in size, the western 
bird being a trifle larger, bill longer and 
slenderer, general tone lighter, and markings 
not so apparent. 

I am not going to quarrel over a shade in 
color, but whether you find the bird in Kan- 
sas or in New Jersev vou will find him the 



OF NORTH AMERICA. 79 

same shy, suspicious yelper who starts into 
the air at the first sniff of danger, sounding 
his alarm note, to the end of warning all the 
birds within hearing, and discomfiting the gun- 
ner. They will, however, come to stool in 
very fair shape, but when secured are not of 
much value, as they are tough and of not 
particularly good flavor. Their haunts and 
food are much like No. 87. 



92. WANDERING TATLER. 

Heteractitis incanus. 

Predominating color dark gray, under side 
white, sometimes shaded on the throat, and 
in other phases of plumage streaked and 
barred with dark. Bill black, length 10 in- 
ches, extent about 18 inches. This bird is 
found along the extreme Pacific coast, and I 
know nothing about it, and never saw but 
two specimens. 



93. BARTRAMIAN SANDPIPER. 
UPLAND PLOVER. 

Bartramia longicauda. 

Predominating color dark brown, each 
feather being edged with reddish. The neck 
and breast are lighter, which color extends to 
and upon the head, the top of which is dark 



80 THE GAME BIRDS 

brown. The breast bears the V-shaped mark 
characteristic of many of our shore birds. 
Under parts dirty white. The tail is barred 
with black, the centre feathers being darker 
than the others. Eyes hazel-brown. Bill 
yellow below, black above and at tip. Legs 
greenish-yellow. Length 12 inches. Extent 
22 inches. 

These birds differ from the majority of its 
kind in frequenting the high fields, pastures, 
and prairies, in their search for food, which 
consists of grasshoppers, crickets, etc. ; and 
it is seldom seen on the shores. 

They are exceedingly variable in their 
spring migrations, arriving here (Lat. 42° N.) 
from the middle of April anywhere along un- 
til the same time in May, and then perhaps 
there may only a very few appear, where the 
season before they were plenty. They return 
in July, and are with us about a month. 

Here in the East a more wary bird does not 
exist, not even barring the grouse, and a 
good bag of these birds is a rarity. 

I have heard that on the Western prai- 
ries sportsmen ride them down, and no doubt 
many a gunner here wishes he could, as he 
sees a scared flock go " over the hills and far 
away " before he can get within range. 

They must be stalked, or, if the gunners 
work in pairs, they may often be driven over. 

They are delicious eating, and justly much 
esteemed. 



OF NORTH AMERICA. 81 

94. BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER. 
Tryngites subruficollis. 

Prevailing color mottled dark-brown with 
a greenish shade, each feather above being 
tipped with yellowish. The distinguishing 
feature, however, is the buff-colored breast and 
belly, unmarked save for a few spots, where 
it commences to shade into the darker color 
of the back ; this color is deeper in the spring, 
and in adult birds. Length 8 inches. Ex- 
tent 16 inches. Eyes brown. Bill dark 
brown. Legs yellowish-green. 

This bird is rare along the Eastern coast, 
and I think common nowhere. It seems to 
fly in company with No. 76, and, being about 
the same size and of similar habit, I have 
no doubt is often taken for that bird in the 
fall migrations. 

95. SPOTTED SANDPIPER. TEETER. 
TIP-UP. OX-EYE. 

Actitis macularia. 

Color olive-gra}^, finely mottled with black. 
Under side white, spotted with black, and 
there is a white mark over the eye. Length 
7i inches. Extent 13 inches. Eyes dark 
brown. Bill flesh-color, tipped with black. 
Feet pinkish-white. 

I hardly know whether to class this bird 
as a game bird, but it is hard to say " where 



82 THE GAME BIRDS 

the chicken ends and where the hen begins." 
It is as large as a Peep, Nos. 79 and 82, and 
many a sportsman has made out an otherwise 
meagre bag with these birds, so why not 
" Teeters " ? They come here in April, and 
stay all summer, feeding and breeding on the 
shores of the ocean, and, in fact, almost any 
small pond or river which will afford them 
food. 

The motion of bobbing the tail while 
moving or standing is as characteristic as is 
the bobbing of the head indulged in by the 
Tattlers. 

I have never seen these birds take to the 
water, but have been told that they will 
even swim under water for a short distance. 
They seem to prefer the calm pools to the 
surfy shores. 

I cannot say how they would do for eating, 
but should think they would be very good 
if enough could be obtained to make a show- 
ing. 



96. LOXG-BILLED CURLEW. 
SICKLE-BILL. 

Numenius longirostris. 

Predominating color reddish-brown, barred 
or spotted with darker. Under side cinna- 
mon-brown, unmarked save for a few faint 
streaks of darker. Length about 2 feet. Ex- 
tent over 3 feet. Eyes dark brown. Bill black, 



OF NORTH AMERICA. 83 

the under side yellowish, and very long, much 
curved downward. This is a distinguishing 
feature of the bird, often measuring 6 or 8 
inches in length. Legs bluish. Weight 
averages about 30 ozs. 

This is one of the largest game birds which 
visit our shores, and is accordingly much 
prized by sportsmen, although as a table bird 




it is far inferior to the Plovers. They will 
stand a heavy dose of lead without coming 
down, and as they fly high, are not always 
captured when seen. 

When they were more common, they were 
easily " whistled " down, but they have be- 
come rare on our shores, although not un- 
common in the Southern States in winter. 

They feed on the flat sand-bars upon crabs 
and other small crustaceans, which impart to 
their flesh something of their characteristic 
flavor. 



84 THE GAME BIRDS 

97. HUDSONIAN CURLEW. 
JACK-CURLEW. 

Numenius hudsonicus. 

Very similar in general appearance to No. 
96, but smaller and lighter in color. More 
gray in general tone than reddish, and whit- 
ish underneath. Length 18 inches. Extent 
32 inches. Bill black, and much shorter in 
proportion than that of No. 96, seldom being 
over 3^ inches long, but with the decided 
downward curve peculiar to the family. 

This is our common Curlew, although the 
Dough-bird, No. 98, is most often seen in the 
market, being more prized for its flesh ; the 
" Jack " being ranker, more like its larger 
relative, No. 96. 

The flight of any of the Curlews is not 
very rapid, but is strong and well sustained. 



98. ESKIMO CURLEW. DOUGH-BIRD. 

Numenius borealis. 

Very similar in appearance to the other 
Curlews, but smaller than either of the others, 
and of a generally richer tone of color than 
No. 97, from which it varies in having V- 
shaped marks on the breast instead of short 
bars ; but the size of the bird is the best 
point of difference. Length about 13 inches. 
Extent 28 inches. Bill blackish, about 2£ 



OF NORTH AMERICA. 85 

inches long, and more slender than in the 
others of the family. Legs dark blue, with 
a greenish shade. Eyes dark brown. 

This bird is found farther from the shore 
than the other Curlews, as it loves the dry 
marshes, and the fields and pastures along the 
seashore, where it can find its favorite food of 
grasshoppers and crickets, and the higher 
land berries, when these are to be found, and 
which impart to their flesh the more pleasing 
flavor than is characteristic of the other Cur- 
lews, and which renders them of more value 
as a table bird, hence commanding a higher 
price in the market. 

There has been much debate over the orth- 
ography of its common name, Dough or Doe- 
bircl. I have given preference to the former, 
merely from the individual opinion, backed 
by that of local New England market gunners, 
based on the description of its fat condition, 
which conveys the idea of a lump of dough. 



99. BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER. 

BEETLE-HEAD. 

Char adr ius squatarola. 

In full breeding plumage, the upper part of 
the head and neck is nearly white, with faint 
gray markings ; the back is nearly black, 
mottled with white and brown. Tail barred 
with black and white. The sides of the head, 
throat, and under side of body, is deep black, 



86 THE GAME BIRDS 

shading into white at the base of the tail. 
Feet and bill black. In the immature and 
winter plumage all this is changed, however, 
and the bird loses nearly all its black color ; 
the back becoming mottled brown and white, 
the breast nearly white, with a few darker 
markings ; even the legs and bill assuming 
a lighter tone ; and these birds shot at the 
different seasons of the year assume all the 
various grades between these two plumages. 




These birds are often confounded, more 
particularly in the gray phase, with No. 100, 
but they are easily distinguished by the pres- 
ence of the minute hind toe, which is lacking 
in the Golden Plover (see No. 100). 

Extent of wings 25 inches. Length of bird 
11| inches. Eyes brown. 

This bird is found in nearly every quarter 
of the globe, and migrates North and South 
with the changes of the season. The flocks 
frequent the beaches at low water, and, when 
the flats are covered, they retire to the 
marshes, there to await the fall of the tide to 



OF XOETH AMERICA. 87 

uncover their favorite food of small shell-fish, 
although they eat the insects of the higher 
beaches. 

They are shot from blinds at high water, 
over decoys, and whistled down, as they fly 
from the flats as these are covered by the flow- 
ing tide. But the gunner must be a good 
" caller," or his bag will hang light, for an old 
"beetle-head" is as crafty as a fox, and an 
experienced gunner will not even use decoys 
on the high beaches, as the old birds will 
often not come down to them, but he will 
pick out a spot which was occupied, on a 
former tide, by the birds, dig a hole in the 
sand, cover it with boards and sand, leaving 
openings to shoot from and knock them over 
as they come up. 

On the flats a sink-box is built on a bar, 
either natural or artificial, and the birds will 
approach, as it is uncovered before the sur- 
rounding flats are bare. 

I know of no bird which is a more univer- 
sal favorite with sportsmen, as it requires the 
greatest skill for its capture, and affording, as 
it does, a fitting reward for the trouble un- 
dertaken. 

The flesh is delicate, and the birds gener- 
ally plump. 



88 THE GAME BIRDS 

100. AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER. 

GREEN-BACK. BULL-HEAD. 

Char adr ius dominions. 

Prevailing color brownish-black, in the old 
birds, marked on the back with numerous 
round spots of golden j^ellow, under parts 
black. This plumage changes in the autumn 
to a duller shade on the back, and the black 
disappears from the breast, which is now dirty 
white, irregularly blotched with dark brown 
spots which disappear in the winter, when 
both old and young birds are dark brown 
above ; the light markings are larger than in 
the spring, giving a generally lighter tone. 



The under parts are now dull white, with 
grayish spots, which wholly disappear towards 
the base of the tail. Length about 10 inches. 
Extent about 22 inches, being a little smaller 
than No. 99. Feet and bill dark bluish. 
Eyes dark brown. 

This bird is often confounded with the 
Beetle-head (No. 99), but is easily distin- 
guished by the absence of the little hind toe. 
There are many other points of difference, as 
may be seen by comparison of these notes, 
but this is always constant and easily ap- 
parent. 



OF NORTH AMERICA. 89 

It shares with its relative (No. 99) the 
esteem of sportsmen, and rivals it in its deli- 
cacy as a table bird. 

It frequents the high beaches and neighbor- 
ing uplands, and in habits and food much re- 
sembles Xo. 98, with which it much associates. 

These birds are shot on their flights, from 
holes dug in the ground and used as a cover 
for the gunner. 

101. KILLDEER. 
JEgialitis vocifera. 

Top of head and upper parts dark grayish- 
brown. Forehead, stripe over the eye, and 
under parts white, with two black bands on 
the throat. Rump bright chestnut. Wings 
and tail variegated with black, brown and 
white. Length 10 inches. Extent 20 inches. 
Legs yellowish-gray. The immature plumage 
is similar but not as bright. 

They frequent the pastures and marshes 
and the borders of muddy ponds, and are very 
abundant in the West. They were formerly 
very plentiful on our Eastern shores, but of 
late are seldom seen. The only time that 
any number have lately been seen East, was 
in November of 1888, when thousands were 
driven upon our shores by the great gale of 
November 25, and was then announced by 
me in the Boston Transcript of December 
12. It was thought by some that these birds 
were now to return to their old haunts, but 



90 THE GAME BIRDS 

they have never been seen since in any 
numbers. 

In the West, where they are abundant, 
they are easily found, as their vociferous cries 
of "kill-deer, kill-deer," are constantly ut- 
tered, and they are not difficult to approach. 

102. SEMI-PALMATED PLOVER. 
RING-NECK. 

^Egialitis semipalmata. 

Upper parts dark gray. Under parts white. 
A broad black band encircles the neck, bor- 
dered in front with white, and a white stripe 
on forehead surrounded by black. Length 7 
inches. Extent 15 inches. Bill yellow, black 
tipped. Legs flesh-color. Eyelids orange. 
Toes partly webbed. 

I presume that I may be criticized for in- 
cluding this among game birds, but it affords 
good sport when larger birds are scarce, and 
is good eating. 

They frequent the flats and beaches, going 
to the higher beaches to roost. 

103. PIPING PLOVER. 

^Egialitis meloda. 

Pale and ashy-gray above. Forehead, sides 
of head, under side and ring around neck 
white. There is a black bar across the top of 
head between the eyes, and another which 



OF XOETH AMERICA. 91 

more or less encircles the neck. (There is a 
variety in the West, occasionally found on the 
Atlantic coast, which has the black band on 
the neck completely encircling it, and this 
has been named A. m. cireiimcinctus, but it 
differs in no other way.) Bill yellow, black 
at tip. Legs orange-yellow. A colored ring 
around the ej^e. Length about 6J inches. 
Extent about 14 inches, being a trifle smaller 
than No. 102. 

They are very pretty birds to shoot, but, if 
wounded, will run like a witch, and are then 
a good test of marksmanship. 



104. SNOTTY PLOVER. 

JEgialitis nivosa. 

A little lighter in color than No. 103, and 
with a reddish tinge on the top of the head, 
which is nearly surrounded by a band of 
black. There is also a jmtch of black on 
either side of the neck, but it makes no attempt 
to encircle it as in No. 103, and there is no 
black band on breast as in No. 105. Bill 
black and slender. Legs black. Length 7 
inches. Extent about 14 inches. Eyes and 
eyelids dark brown. 

This bird is found upon the Western shores 
and sometimes about the Gulf of Mexico and 
the salt lands of the interior. I know nothing 
of its habits, but am informed that it resembles 
No. 102. 



92 THE GAME BIRDS 

105. WILSON'S PLOVER. 
^Egialitis wilsonia. 

This bird resembles No. 104 very closely, 
but differs in having a black band on the neck 
which does not extend over upon the back. 
The bill is very stout and large, and the 
legs are flesh-colored. Slightly larger than 
No. 104; that is, a small specimen of this 
species would be about the same size as a 
large specimen of the other. 

It is found quite commonly on the shores 
of the South Atlantic and Gulf States. 



106. MOUNTAIN PLOVER. 
JEgialitis montana. 

Prevailing color grayish-brown. Entirely 
white beneath. Forehead white, bordered 
with black. In winter, or in the young birds, 
the black marks on the head are not present, 
and the plumage has a rusty tinge. Bill 
black and slender. Legs pale brown. Length 
about 10 inches. Extent 18 inches. Eyes 
dark brown. 

These birds inhabit the high prairies, and 
seldom are found near marshy lands. They 
feed upon insects. 



OF XOETH AMERICA. 93 

107. TURXSTOXE. CHICKEN PLOVER. 
CALICO-BACK. 

Armaria interpres. 

The adult male in breeding plumage is 
dressed like a harlequin, the back being 
blotched with black, white, brown and chest- 
nut. The under side is pure white, broken 
by a broad patch of black upon the breast. 
The lower part of the back is white, with a 
black patch on the rump, and the tail is black 
bordered with white. The wings also, bear 
a large white patch. The head is mottled 
black, brown and white with a broad black 
patch on either side extending down to the 
sides of the neck and connecting with the 
breast patch. The colors of the female are 
similar but the chestnut color is replaced 
with brown, and the general effect not so 
bright. Immature and winter plumage 
mostly brown and gray. The bright colors 
of the back are generally a distinguishing 
feature sufficient for recognition. The bill 
is black. Feet orange. Eyes black. Length 
9 inches. Extent 18 inches. There is a 
variety on the Pacific coast in which the 
characteristic red color is replaced by black. 

These birds are found in nearly all quarters 
of the globe, and generally in small flocks of 
three to twelve, feeding upon the marine 
animals which it collects upon the shores by 
turning over the small stones, whence its 
name. Their favorite haunts seem to be 



94 THE GAME BIEDS 

the pebbly beaches, but they are often taken 
upon the marshes and upon the low sand 
flats and bars. 

They are one of the most conspicuous shore 
birds, and once seen will be easily recognized. 
Their flight is very rapid, and, while on the 
wing they incessantly repeat their short, 
sharp, whistling note, which is especially 
hard to imitate, but they are not very shy, 
and will come down to almost any of the 
shore-bird decoys. I never tried to eat them 
but once, and was not favorably struck by 
their flavor, which resembles that of fish oil. 



108. AMERICAN OYSTER CATCHER. 

Hcematopus palUatus. 

Predominant color smoky-brown, with 
black head and neck. Under parts white, 
and the wing bears a conspicuous white patch. 
(There is a variety on the Pacific coast, H. 
niger, which is entirely black.) Bill 3 to 4 
inches long, varying in every specimen, and 
often thin on the end and bent to one side, 
from its constant use in opening the shells of 
mollusks; coral red, yellow tipped. Feet 
and legs livid. Eyes and eyelids red. 
Length 18 to 21 inches. Extent 30 to 36 
inches. Said to be non-edible, although I 
can see no reason why it should be so, as 
they feed almost entirely on shell-fish. 



OF NORTH AMERICA. 95 

E. H. Forbush, State Ornithologist of 
Massachusetts, tells me that this bird is very 
good eating, if quickly cleaned. And it is 
probable that many of those birds, which are 
ordinarily not esteemed fit for food, if drawn 
as soon as killed, and soaked a little while in 
water, would be found very palatable. 



96 THE GAME BIRDS 



LAND BIRDS. 



109. BOBWHITE. QUAIL. 
VIRGINIA PARTRIDGE. 

Colinus virginianus. 

Predominating color reddish-brown, mottled 
and streaked with black and darker brown, 
lighter on the under parts. The male has 
the forehead, line over the eye, and throat 
white, bordered with black, which color is re- 
placed in the female by buff. Bill dull black. 
Legs gray. Eyes dark brown. Length 9^ to 
10?}- inches. Extent 14^ to 15^ inches. 
Weight about 7 ozs. 

There are two so-called varieties of this 
bird. Its range extends from Massachusetts 
to Texas and westward throughout the east- 
ern United States. The bird described above 
is the one from the northern section. As we 
follow the species southward it gradually be- 
comes smaller and darker colored on the east- 
ern coast, producing the Florida variety 
( Colinus virginianus floridanus), and in the ex- 
treme southwest, becomes more gray, which 
variety is called (7. v. texanus, but they are all 
practically bobwhite just the same. 



OF KORTH AMERICA. 97 

There is no game bird more universally 
known and admired, for to the sportsman he 
affords a tempting mark as he flushes before 
the dogs, and whirrs off through the sharp 
air of autumn, his little body blending closely 
with the gray-brown of the fading foliage, 
to drop, after a short flight, in the first con- 
venient covert, where he is soon located by the 
keen scent of the dog, to fall perhaps, at the 
gun's report. The bobwhite frequents the 
semi-open fields and pastures which afford 
him cover in the short brush and food in the 
open. At night, clustered together, the flock 
passes the sleeping hours, and during bad 
weather, in these same covers, and often in 
severe storms of sleety they are frozen under 
by the accumulation of the frozen snow, to mis- 
erably perish. I know of none of our game 
birds whose very existence is so constantly in 
danger ; a prey to the prowling fox by night, 
and chased and harassed by birds of prey by 
day, added to the other evils of destruction. It 
is a wise provision of Providence that they 
are so prolific, a single hen bringing up each 
year two litters of ten to fourteen chicks. 
They feed upon insects and the seeds of 
weeds, and no better ally can the farmer have 
for the protection of his crops than a few 
coveys of quail in his fields. 



98 THE GAME BIEDS 

110. MOUNTAIN PARTRIDGE. 
PLUMED QUAIL. MOUNTAIN QUAIL. 

Oreortyx pictus. 

I shall not here attempt to separate the two 
varieties now laid down in the list, as they 
are practically the same bird. Predominating 
color olive-brown, with a coppery lustre. 




Breast slaty-blue, shading into the olive at the 
back, and finehy marked with black. Throat 
and belly chestnut. There is a black line, 
bordered above with white, on either side the 
neck, and the sides are banded with broad 
bars of white and black. The distinguishing 
feature of this bird is the two black arrowy 
plumes on the crown of the head, which are 
3 to 4 inches long in the male and much 
shorter in the female. Bill and feet brown. 
Length 12 inches. Extent 17 inches. 

This beautiful bird is an inhabitant of the 
mountainous regions of the northwest, haunt- 
ing the underbrush. They are not fast flyers, 
and will often try to skulk off when ap- 
proached, which tactics are extremely suited 



OF NOBTH AMERICA. 99 

to the thick covers which they frequent. The 
opinions of my various correspondents differ 
as whether they will lie well to the dog, 
some say yes and some no, but all agree that 
they furnish fine sport. 

111. SCALED PARTRIDGE. 
BLUE QUAIL. 

Callipepla sqitamata. 

Predominating color leaden-blue, darker on 
the back. The distinctive feature of this bird 
is the peculiar shell-like marking of the neck 
and breast, produced by the black edgings of 
the feathers. The crest is short, and com- 
posed of several feathers, but is not so promi- 
nent as in others of the crested quails. There 
is a large patch of reddish-brown on the belly, 
which in some specimens shades into chest- 
nut, giving rise to a variety known as casta- 
nogastris. This latter variety inhabits the 
lower lands; and the main species, the table- 
lands of Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. 
Length 11 inches. Extent 15 inches, being 
a little smaller than No. 110. 

112. CALIFORNIA PARTRIDGE. 
VALLEY QUAIL, (var.) 

Callip ep la c alifo m ica. 

Predominating color ashy, shaded with 
olive-brown. The breast is bluish-slate ; be- 
low this, on the under side, is a patch of 



100 THE GAME BIEDS 

chestnut, shading into tawny brown toward 
the edges, with the tips of the feathers edged 
with black. The head of the male is marked 
with a white line over the eye and a white 
forehead. The head is surmounted with a 
crest of 6 to 10 black feathers, curved for- 
ward. 




The female has not the black throat nor 
the head markings, and the crest is smaller. 

Length 11 inches. Extent about 16 in- 
ches. It inhabits California and Oregon east 
to the Colorado River. 

Much has been written concerning the 
comparative merits, as a game bird, of this, 
as compared with our eastern quail, and, 
from what I can gather, I am inclined to 
think that bobwhite is on top. The Calif or- 
nian does not lie well to the dog until they 



OF NORTH AMERICA. 101 

have been badly scared, and then they go 
like a " blue streak.'' However, they are a 
good table bird, and afford considerable 
sport, since they are quite numerous. They 
habit the thick cover of chaparral and weeds. 



113. GAMBEL'S PARTRIDGE. 

Callipepla gambeli. 

This bird is own cousin to the last (No. 
112), differing in haying a black forehead in- 
stead of white; no white line beneath the eye ; 
back of head chestnut instead of smoky- 
brown ; sides chestnut with white stripes ; 
and the middle of the belly jet-black instead 
of chestnut. Otherwise in appearance and 
habits like its California!! relative. 



114. DUSKY GROUSE. BLUE GROUSE. 
Dendragapus obscurus. 

Predominating color very dark brown, 
finely marbled with gray, shading into bluish- 
gray on the under sides. Cheeks black. Tail 
rounded, of 18 to 20 feathers, dark brown 
like back, tipped with a band of gray. Bill 
black. Eyes golden-brown, with a comb 
above. Length 20 to 21 inches. Extent 
about 30 inches. Weight 3 to 4 lbs. 

The female is of a lighter shade than the 
above, and a little smaller than the male. 



102 THE GAME BIRDS 

This great bird is a native of the Rocky 
Mountains, the darker varieties known as 
Richardson's and Sooty Grrouse occupying the 
northern limits. 

From all that I can gather from my corre- 
spondents in relation to its habits, it seems to 
be a somewhat stupid, lazy bird, not easily 
flushed, but a strong, rapid flyer, when 
startled ; frequenting the high coniferous 
trees during the most of the year. From all 
accounts, it affords but comparatively poor 
sport, aside from its great size and abundance, 
as it must be shot while sitting, and it appears 
to have the ability to so adjust itself upon 
the limbs as to almost completely hide from 
the gaze of the observer. One correspondent 
tells of killing six by throwing stones at 
them, and another of shooting them out of 
the high trees 100 feet from the ground. In 
some places they are shot when flushed, and, 
in the other instances, they should afford 
good sport with a rifle. 

115. CANADA GROUSE. 
SPRUCE PARTRIDGE. 

Dendragapus canadensis. 

Prevailing color of adult male, black, 
lighter on the back, waved and spotted with 
white and tawny. Tail of 14 to 18 feathers 
tipped with brown. The female and imma- 
ture male are somewhat like the above on the 
back, but not so dark, and the under side is 



OF NORTH AMERICA. 103 

variegated white and tawny, waved with 
blackish. There is a red comb over the eye. 
Length about 16 inches. Extent 22 inches. 
There is a slightly differing variety in the 
Northwest. The habitat of this bird is the 
northern part of the continent, south into the 
northern border of the United States. 

Although a very handsome bird, it is little 
sought for by sportsmen, since its flesh, 
though sometimes not bad, is generally so 
impregnated with the flavor of the spruce 
buds upon which it feeds, as to render it 
utterly uneatable. And it affords but little 
sport, for it is so stupid as to allow the 
approach of man within a few yards, and is 
even taken with a slip-noose on the end of a 
pole. 

I saw three of these birds breeding in cap- 
tivity at Kentville, N. S., and I believe that 
their owner, Mr. Bishop, enjoys the unique 
honor of being the only person who has suc- 
ceeded in their domestication. 

116. RUFFED GEOUSE. 
PARTRIDGE. PHEASANT. 

Bonasa wnbellus. 

Prevailing color variegated grayish-brown 
(in some specimens shading into a reddish- 
brown with bronze lustre). Whitish below, 
barred with brown. 

The male has a ruffle of glossy black 
feathers about the sides of the neck, which in 



104 THE GAME BIRDS 

the female is smaller and of a brown color. 
The tail, normally of 18 feathers, is rounded, 
and bears a band of black near the tip. There 
are three varieties, due to climatic agencies, 
and they grade into each other insensibly. 

Bill and legs light brown. Eyes brown. 
Length 16 to 20 inches. Extent 23 to 25 
inches. Weight 1J to 2 lbs. I have heard 
of " King-partridges " as large as a turkey, 
but never saw one : and a 2-pound bird is a 
big one. 

The birds inhabit the greater portion of 
civilized North America, except the South- 
west, and, excepts where seldom hunted, are, 
taken all in all, /he most noble game bird of 
which this country boasts. /I have seen these 
birds flush from the ground and settle upon 
a tree not over 200 feet away, and eye me as 
curiously as if I was a dime museum freak, 
and I have been threatened with condign 
punishment by correspondents in the North 
and West for the above remark. But if any 
of these friends will have a try at these birds 
here in our Eastern States, I will wager that 
they change their minds. The sportsman 
who brings in a good bag of these birds here 
is worthy of a place in the front ranks of the 
guild. It is warier, and filled fuller of strat- 
egy, pound for pound, than any living bird on 
our soil. 

Like nearly all gallinaceous birds, the male 
has the habit of strutting during the sexual 
period, which is accompanied by various 



OF NORTH AMERICA. 105 

sounds calculated to attract the female and 
exalt it in her estimation ; and, in the case of 
the ruffed grouse, the act is termed " drum- 
ming." At this time they seem to be oblivious 
of all else, but he is a good man who can sur- 
prise the bird even then. 

Any discussion of the habits of the bird 
would seem superfluous ; volumes have been 
written on the subject, and more will follow 
just as long as man can walk the fields. 

117. WILLOW PTARMIGAN. 

Lagopus lagopus. 

There is no American bird which exhibits 
such peculiarities of plumage as do the Ptar- 
migans. For they are constantly moulting, 
and there are no two weeks in the year when 
a bird would correspond to any accurate de- 
scription ; and no bird exhibits such a complete 
change, for even the horny coverings of the 
bill and toes are cast off with the feathers, 
and the plumage varies in every gradation 
of color, from the beautifully mottled summer 
coat of blacks and brown's to the nearly uni- 
form white of winter. 

In the full spring breeding plumage, the 
predominant color is rich brown, inclined to 
tawny, mottled and barred with black and 
white ; the most of the wings and the abdo- 
men white. The female is similar, but more 
tawny, including the abdomen. The legs are 
feathered to the toes ; the winter plumage is 



106 THE GAME BIRDS 

white, except that the tail is black. Ornith- 
ologists have lately divided this species into 
two. The principal point of difference being 
that the original species has the quills of the 
outer wing feathers white, and the variety 
(alleni) black. Bill black and stout. Eyes 
hazel. Length about 17 inches. Extent 
about 24 inches. 

This bird takes the place in the North of 
the grouse in the South, and they afford as 
fine sport in their haunts as do their relatives 
of the South. They are strong flyers, and lie 
well to the dog. 

They are found on the marshy lands, and 
their numbers, in those sections where they 
have not been too much molested, is some- 
thing incredible, their cry of " Go back, go 
back " resounding from every quarter when 
disturbed. 

118. ROCK PTARMIGAN. 

Lag opus rupestris. 

This bird much resembles the foregoing, 
but is smaller, and the color is more of a 
brownish-yellow, and in the winter there is a 
black stripe on each side of the head, which 
is not possessed by No. 117. The bill is more 
slender. Length 1-1 to 15 inches. Extent 
about 22 inches. 

There are three varieties of this species 
described by the later ornithologists, and an- 
other bird from Newfoundland (£. welchi) 



OF NOETH AMERICA. 107 

which has been considered sufficiently distinct 
to form a new species. But they are suffi- 
ciently similar to be considered as one and 
the same, so far as our purpose goes, and in 
view of the numerous variations of individual 
plumage, the subdivision is extremely prob- 
lematical, except to the expert. 



119. WHITE-TAILED PTARMIGAN. 
Lagopus leucurus. 

Habitat — Rocky Mountains. Size and 
appearance similar to No. 118; but the tail 
remains ivhite throughout the year, and the 
wings and abdomen are of this color in the 
summer plumage. Found on the mountain 
ranges, from the timber-line upward, coming 
lower down in the winter, as the other forms 
come southward at the same time. 



120. PRAIRIE HEN. 
PINNATED GROUSE. 

Tympanuchus americanus. 

Predominant color grayish-brown, heavily 
barred with black. Head buffy, underside 
dirty white, barred with brown. Top of head 
and stripe on each side, black. Tail dusky, 
tipped with white. The most peculiar feature 
of this bird is the black tuft of feathers 



108 THE GAME BIBDS 

which adorns the neck on either side, beneath 
which is a large, bare patch of 3^ellow 
skin which in the breeding season the male 
distends. The female is very similar, but the 
neck tufts are shorter. Length 17 to 18 
inches. Extent 28 to 29 inches and over. 
Eyes brown. Bill brown. Feet yellowish. 

This bird, while not for a moment to be 
classed with the ruffed grouse, is still a great 
favorite with sportsmen. Their flight is not 
so rapid as that bird, but more protracted and 
unaccompanied by the disconcerting whir-r-r 
of the other, although they can raise up quite 
a racket when suddenly disturbed. 

Their flesh is dark, and does not compare 
favorably with that of the ruffed grouse, but 
being more plentiful they occupy a favorite 
place in the market. 

Their habitat is the open prairie, seldom 
visiting the timber. In former days, this bird, 
or a representative of the family (the heath- 
hen), was not uncommon on our Eastern 
plains, but they have gradually dwindled 
away, until only one colony now exists, upon 
the island of Martha's Vinej'ard. And such 
is the greed for gore and gain, that were it 
not for the strenuous efforts of a few far- 
sighted men, who can see more than a foot 
beyond their noses, these birds, too, would 
have long since gone the waj^ of the Great 
Auk and the Labrador Duck. I cannot speak 
in too strong words of contempt of the action 
of those, who, even now in spite of the pro- 



OF NORTH AMERICA. 109 

tecting laws, seek to remove the last of this 
race which once was found commonly dis- 
tributed over our land. 

There is a variety of the prairie hen which 
is found in the South, smaller and lighter in 
color. The characteristic bars are narrower, 
and brown or grayish, rather than black. The 
length is 15 to 17 inches, and the extent 27 
inches. Otherwise it differs, neither in habits 
nor appearance, from the usual form as com- 
monly seen. In fact, it is merely a form, 
which, by reason of its surroundings, has be- 
come changed from the original type, and 
being isolated from it, has in progress of time 
become perpetuated. 

121. SHARP-TAILED GROUSE. 

Pedioccetes phasianellus. 

This is the northwestern representative of 
the prairie-chicken, and is somewhat similar 
in habits, but not at all in appearance. The 
predominant color is ashy-gray, marked with 
irregular spots and bars of black, white and 
tawny-brown. The underside is nearly white, 
and marked with U-shaped spots of brown. 
The throat is light buff color, and there is 
quite a pronounced crest on the top of the 
head. Unlike the preceding species of grouse, 
this bird has no neck ornaments, but a close 
examination will disclose there the character- 
istic bare spots, which are seen during the 
breeding season. Two varieties have been 



110 THE GAME BIRDS 

made of this species. The Northern form is 
darker, with but few brown markings, and 
the spots on the breast are V-shaped ; and, 
curiously enough, the lighter and browner 
form, of the extreme South, also exhibits 
this V-shaped mark, although separated from 
the other by the common type. A distinctive 
feature of this bird is the tail, which is trian- 
gular in shape, when in a natural position, 
the middle tail feathers being about four 
times as long as the outer. From this arises 
the name. Bill and feet brown. Eyes brown. 
The legs are feathered to the feet. Length 
18 to 20 inches. Extent 25 to 30 inches. 

As compared to No. 120, this bird ranks 
high as a game bird. Its flight is strong, 
swift and direct, and its flesh much superior 
to the other bird. 

An attempt, undoubtedly so far successful, 
is being made to introduce this bird to our 
eastern fields. While it will probably never 
take the place of our ruffed grouse in the 
estimation of our sportsmen, any addition to 
our feathered game will be welcomed, to 
afford a bag to those who desire to hunt over 
our fields, now rapidly being depleted of 
game birds. 

122. SAGE GROUSE. SAGE COCK. 

Centrocercus urophasianus. 

The monarch, so far as size is concerned, 
of the grouse, but, alas ! there his dominion 



OF KORTH AMERICA. Ill 

ceases. Many times the tyro sportsman has 
been sadly left, when he has thought himself 
possessed of a good dinner in an old sage 
cock. A correspondent writes : u I never 
attempted but once to eat an old bird, and I 
shall never try again, I would rather eat a 
broiled plug of tobacco ; but for a fine morsel, 
commend me to a young bird in the summer. 
I could not believe such a transition possible ; 
they beat a woodcock ' all hollow ' at that 
time." The color is gray, variegated with 
black, brown and buff on the back, and dirty 
white below, and the neck has two bunches 
of hair-like feathers, beneath which is the 
air sac which can be extended to enormous 
proportions. The tail is long and composed 
of twenty stiff and narrow feathers. The 
full-grown cock is over 2 feet long, while the 
hen will seldom reach this measure. The ex- 
tent is about 3 feet, with about the same pro- 
portion for the female bird. Weight 3 to 5 
lbs. 

When this great bird gets up in front of 
the gunner, he is apt, if not accustomed to 
the bird, to have a severe attack of ague, 
although one friend tells about kicking them 
out of the sage-brush. The flight is strong, 
and when a wild bird is started, don't try to 
follow him, he may go a mile. 



112 THE GAME BIKDS 

123. WILD TURKEY. 

Meleagris gallopavo. 

There are two species of this bird in North 
America, else I should deem it unnecessary to 
give any description. The wild turkey proper 
was formerly distributed generally over 
Eastern North America, but it is now found 
only in those portions but little visited by 
man, and not even there are they, by any 
means, common. The general color of this 
bird is black, with a coppery lustre, each 
feather being margined with velvety black. 
The tail feathers are dark chestnut, with 
numerous bars of black. This same color 
characterizes the sides and coverts. The 
southern species, which is the original of the 
domesticated turkey, has the feathers at base 
of tail, on the back, chestnut, tipped with 
whitish, and the tips of the tail feathers are 
whitish. In both species the head is bare of 
feathers, colored blue, with reddish excres- 
cences. The forehead is furnished with a 
depending, fleshy, cone-shaped process, which 
is erected in moments of excitement. There 
is also a hairy tuft upon the breast. Length 
3 to 4 feet. Extent 4^- to 5 feet and over. Eyes 
brown. Bill brown. Legs dark and reddish- 
purple. 

This monarch of game birds, like similar 
representatives of human bipeds, is rapidly 
disappearing before the march of civilization 



OF NOETH AMERICA. 113 

and progress. Once common in New Eng- 
land, it is there extinct ; and this noble bird 
must now be followed by sportsmen to the 
forest fastnesses of the South and Southwest. 
A few still exist in the Allegheny range, 
but they are seldom taken. 

A successful turkey hunter is the embodi- 
ment of all that appertains to woodcraft ; and 
he who can call a gobbler within range is 
worthy of a place in. the front ranks of the 
sportsman fraternity. 

Their food is a mixture of nuts, seeds, and 
insects, and their flesh is as much esteemed 
for the table as that of the domestic bird. 

124. PASSENGER PIGEON. 

JEctopistes migratorius. 

Color blue above, reddish-brown beneath, 
becoming lighter toward the tail, which, 
composed of 12 feathers, is brown in the 
middle and blue on the sides. These blue 
feathers, when pulled apart, show a web of 
white on the inner sides. The neck is beauti- 
fully glossed with a golden- violet. Bill black. 
Legs bluish. Feet red. Eyes red. Length 
16 to 17 inches. Extent about 2 feet. 

This is the bird popularly known as the 
wild pigeon. It was in former years com- 
monly distributed over the entire country, 
passing North and South during their migra- 
tions, in immense numbers. Even now, scat- 
tering birds are seen in the East, but we 



114 THE GAME BIRDS. 

must now go to the West to find the flocks, 
and, there even, their numbers are greatly 
lessened. 

It could hardly be called sport to hunt 
them when they were common, for a shot fired 
into the midst of a flock would bring clown 
numbers of them, but they are now somewhat 
followed as game. They are fine eating; and 
it takes a good shot to secure a single bird, as 
their powers of flight and its velocity are 
wonderful. They migrate in flocks, some- 
times of immense size, but although they re- 
main in colonies, they breed in single pairs. 



INDEX. 



PAGE 

Avocet 58 

Baldpate 16 

Beetle-head 85 

Blue-bill : .24,25,36 

Bobwhite . 96 

Brant 41 

Black 41 

White 37 

Broad-bill . .19,24,36 

Brown-back 62 

Buffle-head 28 

Bull-head 88 

Bumble-bee 67 

Butter-ball 28,36 

Butter-bill 33 

Calico-back 93 

Cock-a-wee 29 

Coot, American 53 

Bull 34 

Gray 34 

Sea 33 

Crake, Carolina 50 

Crane, Common Brown 46 

Little Brown 46 

Sandhill 46 

Whooping 45 

Curlew, Eskimo 84 

Hudsonian 84 

Jack 84 

Long-billed 82 

Dipper 28 

Diver, Great Northern 7 

Dough-bird 84 

Dowitcher 62 

Dunlin 68 

Duck, Black 13 

Canvas back 23 

Dusky 13 

Eider ... 32, 33 

Florida 14 

Golden-eye 26 

" " Barrow's 27 

Gray 15,20 

Harlequin 30 

Labrador 31 

Long-tail 29 

Mottled 14 



116 



INDEX. 



Duck, Painted 

Pintail 

Pied 

Raft 

Red-head 

Ring-necked . 

Ruddy . 

Scaup . 

Sea 

Shoveller 

Spirit . 

Summer 

Tree 

Wild . 

Wood . 
Gadwall . 
Gallinule, Purple 

Florida . 
Garrot 
Godwit, Marbled 

Hudsonian 
Goosander 
Goose. Blue . 

Brant . 

Cackling 

Canada . 

Emperor 

Hutchins's 

Laughing 

Painted 

Ross's . 

Snow 

"White-cheeked 

White-fronted 
Grass-bird 
Gray-back 
Green-back 
Green-head 
Grouse, Blue . 

Canada . 

Dusky . 

Pinnated 

Richardson's 

Ruffed . 

Sage 

Sharp-tailed 

Sooty 
Humility 
Killdeer . 
Knot 

Long Shanks . 
Loon 

Black-throated 

Pacific . 

Red-throated 
Lord and Lady 
Mallard . 
Marlin 



INDEX. 117 



PAGE 

Marsh-hen, Fresh-water 47 

Salt-water 47 

Meadow-hen 53 

Merganser, American 9 

Hooded 10 

Red-headed 10 

Mud-hen 53 

Blue 52 

Old-Squaw 29 

Ox-bird 68 

Ox-eye 81 

Oyster Catcher 94 

Partridge 103 

California 99 

Gambel's " . loi 

Mountain 98 

Scaled 99 

Spruce 102 

Virginia 96 

Peep 67, 70 

Bull 71 

Phalarope, Northern 56 

Bed 55 

TVilson's 56 

Pheasant 103 

Pigeon, Passenger 113 

Plover, Black-bellied 85 

Chicken 93 

Golden 88 

Killdeer 89 

Mountain 92 

Piping 90 

Bed-breast 63 

Semi-palmated 90 

Snowy 91 

Upland .... 79 

Wilson's 92 

Pochard 22 

Prariie Hen 107 

Ptarmigan, Bock 106 

White-tailed 107 

"Willow 105 

Quail 96 

Blue 99 

Gambel's 101 

Mountain 98 

Plumed 98 

Valley 99 

Bail, Black 51 

Carolina * 50 

Clapper 47 

King 47 

Red-breast 47 

Sora 50 

Virginia 49 

Yellow 51 

Bing-neck 90 

Sage Cock . 110 



118 



INDEX. 



PAGE 

Sanderling 71 

Sandpiper, Baird's 07 

Bartramian . 79 

Buff-breasted 81 

Curlew G9 

Ferrugineous G9 

Least G7 

Pectoral Go 

Purple 65 

Red-backed 68 

Semi-palm ated 70 

Solitary 77 

Spotted 81 

Stilt 63 

Western 71 

White-rumped G6 

Sawbill 10 

Scoter, American 33 

Surf 35 

White-wing 34 

Sheldrake, Pond 9 

Salt-water 10 

Shovel-bill 19 

Sickle-bill 82 

Skunk-head 36 

Snipe, Fall 68 

Jack 65 

Red-breasted 62 

Robin G2, 63 

Wilson's 61 

Sora 50 

Sou-southerly 29 

Spot-rump 74 

Stilt, Black-necked 58 

Swan, Trumpeter 43 

Whistling 43 

Tatler, Wandering 79 

Tattler 75 

Teal, Blue-winged 18 

Cinnamon 18 

Green-winged 17 

Teeter 81 

Tip-up 81 

Turkey, Wild 112 

Turnstone 93 

Wavey 37 

Horned 38 

Whale-bird 55 

Whistler .... 26 

Rocky Mountain 27 

Widgeon 16 

Willet 78 

Western 78 

Woodcock 59 

Yellow-legs, Greater 75 

Lesser 76 

Winter 75 



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